Three years...

That's how long Cassie has lived with the knowledge that Tyler died thinking she didn't love him, instead of being truthful that she was afraid to lose him when he deployed. Three long years of grief, regret, and an inability to move on. Until one phone call sets her world on edge. "He's alive, and coming home."

Three years of captivity has a way of changing a man, but one thing that hasn't changed is Tyler's love for Cassie. And now that he's home, he intends to prove what he's always known - that he's meant to be with Cassie. He just hopes that he's able to make her admit it, and that she's able to deal with the damaged man he's become.

I reeeeeally wanted to love this one, but it didn't happen. Honestly, I wasn't a fan of Cassie at all. She came across as self-centered, selfish, and childish. I don't want to get into the reasons why (because I don't want to spoil the plot), but I just couldn't get past how rigid she was in her wants versus his needs. I mean, it seemed as if it didn't matter what he went through, as long as she got what she wanted. (JMHO) And when she did come around, (for me) it was too little - too late.

Claiming the Billionaire is the fourth book in the Seattle Bachelors series from JM Stewart. This book is a standalone, though the books are interconnected. You don't need to have read the previous books to understand or enjoy this book, though fans of the series will enjoy getting to know these characters better as well as seeing familiar faces.

Three years ago, Tyler Benson walked out of Cassie's life. He headed off to the middle east, and though he was captured and held for three years, he thought of her every day. Having heard that Tyler was captured and killed, Cassie has turned her jewelry business into a successful company and is determined to keep her focus on work and moving forward with her life. But just as she is thinking of moving on, Tyler returns and changes everything. Tyler is determined to win her as a date at a bachelorette auction, knowing that she will have to talk to him and give him a chance. But can Cassie keep her heart locked up against Tyler this time around, or will he get under her skin once again and show her that they belong together?

I will admit that I struggled with Cassie. I think that she handled Tyler's return very poorly, acting immature and thinking of only herself at times. It definitely would have been shocking to see him after everything that had happened, but I just had a hard time with her actions. Tyler was struggling with PTSD and was clinging to what had kept him alive throughout his time in an Afghan prison and I felt for him and all that he had been through. Which is a lot of why I had issues with Cassie and how she acted towards Tyler. I felt like he deserved better at times and it was hard for me to warm up to her. These two were hot together and it was clear that they each cared about one another.

Overall, this was a story about second chances. Not only in love but in life as well. I really liked Tyler and felt invested in him right away. I can't imagine going through what he did and having to come back and face moving forward. I felt like Stewart did a great job addressing the PTSD and showing how he healed and grew over the course of the book. I just wish I had been able to like Cassie more, as I think that would have made this book one that I loved rather than just liked. Still a good story, but Tyler was definitely what kept me reading this one. If you are a fan of this series, I think you will enjoy this one. If you are new to the series though, I still think that this one is worth taking a chance on.

DNF. Just couldn't get into the story. Found the "presumed dead" but "Surpise! Not Dead!" plot messy.

CLAIMING THE BILLIONAIRE is book 4 in J.M. Stewart's Seattle Bachelors series. Like with the past two books in the series, the hero and heroine in CLAIMING THE BILLIONAIRE have a history. Three years ago, Cassie broke up with Tyler because she didn't want to face the uncertainty and pain that sometimes comes with being married to a soldier. What she didn't count on was that she couldn't turn off her love for Ty. Now Ty has come back home and proves to Cassie that true love never dies.

The first half of CLAIMING THE BILLIONAIRE focuses on Ty's mission to win back Cassie despite her fears. The second half of CLAIMING THE BILLIONAIRE focuses on Ty's struggle with PTSD and the impact that has on his relationship with Cassie. J.M. Stewart balances the heady romance with the more serious issues surrounding Ty's past trauma. This story, out of all the romances I've read that have similar themes, gives one of the best glimpses into what a soldier with PTSD goes through and how he tries to build his life back together when he's once again in civilian life.

I like that CLAIMING THE BILLIONAIRE shakes things up in the series by having a female billionaire. Cassie is a strong and independent woman, but J.M. Stewart does a great job of showing her sensitive side. I like that Ty brings out Cassie's playful side and how that translates to the bedroom. The trysts between Cassie and Ty are red- hot and explosive, but they are always crackling with sexual tension because of the deep emotional bond they have. Because of their three-year separation and the circumstances of Ty's long absence, there is a sense of immediacy to their passionate encounters.

CLAIMING THE BILLIONAIRE is about enduring love and a strong hero and heroine who fight to make their relationship work. Ty's family and Cassie's friends give the couple space to work through things on their own, but offer advice and a shoulder to lean on. As always, I look forward to the next steamy romance by J.M. Stewart.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

Each of the books in the Seattle Bachelors can be read as a stand alone though you will see the primaries become secondaries in the other books. This particular book features the seemingly wild and out of control Cassie Stephanolophus. She's never settling down and will never give her heart to any man. Use them, sure. Everyone gets what they want that way right?

Unless the man's name is Tyler Benson. Her one and only regret. Gosh these two characters. They've been through some extremely difficult years. Tyler especially. I don't even want to think what our POW's live through. What a hero to make it outside again. They probably don't think that way - but it say something about their strength of will for them to survive being held captive for years.

Tyler is determined to get Cassie to see him. To be with him. Be his. Gosh their love story might break your heart. These two characters definitely deserve an HEA. There are several factors that come into play before it can decided if Cassie and Tyler are due one. And OMG you want to read all about it. These two - their story is equally heart breaking as it is heart warming.

Cassie Stephanopolus is rich, successful and heartbroken. She never got over the loss of Tyler Benson. Everyone thought he died, but they were wrong. He was held captive by insurgents who tortured him and killed his comrades. Somehow he managed to escape. Now he's back home and struggling. He can't live without Cassie, but she won't admit that she cares for him. Can these two people overcome their issues and find a HEA? Cassie has never dealt with the loss of her brother. She hates that war destroyed her family. I was sad that she pushed Tyler away. He loves her and their chemistry is amazing. Tyler needs Cassie. She gives him a feeling of peace and safety but he's afraid that his PTSD will cause him to harm her. It was heartbreaking to watch him struggle to get back his life. This is a compelling story. I couldn't put this book down. I was pulled into this story. JM Stewart did an excellent job. She made me care for Cassie and Tyler. Claiming The Billionaire was the most intense of the Seattle Bachelors books. It touched my heart.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader copy of this book.

3.75 stars--CLAIMING THE BILLIONAIRE is the fourth and final installment in J. M. Stewart’s contemporary, adult SEATTLE BACHELORS erotic, romance series. This is jewelry designer Cassandra ‘Cassie’ Stephanopolous, and US Army Staff Sergeant Tyler Benson’s story line. CLAIMING THE BILLIONAIRE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. We were first introduced to Cassie in the earlier stories, as well as BARGAINING FOR THE BILLIONAIRE #3.

Told from dual third person points of view (Cassie and Tyler) CLAIMING THE BILLIONAIRE is a second chance story line; a rekindling romance between jewelry designer Cassie Stephanopolous, and Army Staff Sargeant Tyler Benson. Three years earlier Tyler walked out of Cassie’s life, and headed to war in the Middle East. News would come home that Tyler was missing and presumed dead, and for three years our heroine grieved for the man who had stolen her heart. Fast forward to present day wherein Tyler Benson returns home, a broken man held prisoner by the Afghanistan army, but a man who is hoping for a second chance with the woman he loves. What ensues is Cassie’s struggle to accept that Tyler isn’t ready to settle down; and Tyler’s ongoing battles with PTSD and the demons that follow.

The relationship between Cassie and Tyler is one of second chances. Tyler’s return brings with it relief, anger, and betrayal for a woman who thought she had moved forward with the loss of the man that she loved. Cassie has a difficult time accepting Tyler’s reentry into her life, and struggles to come to terms with his need to rekindle what they once had. From the outside looking in Cassie’s handling of Tyler’s return is nothing short of self-centered and immature, and I struggled with my perception of the story line heroine but saying that each person handles grief differently and Tyler’s return from the ‘dead’ is shocking. Tyler is a man desperate to hold onto the one thing that kept him alive throughout his ordeal in an Afghan prison-his memories of Cassie. But his nightly terrors and PTSD dreams threaten the tenuous hold our hero has on his sanity and his love. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense; provocative and passionate.

All of the previous story line couples play secondary and supporting roles. It was nice to revisit with all of the couples as well as a look into what the future has in store.

The world building looks at the emotional impact on those left behind, and the PTSD that the men and women suffer when the world becomes overwhelming and the lines of reality begin to blur.

CLAIMING THE BILLIONAIRE is an emotional and heartbreaking story line of survival, second chances, and love. The premise is profound and timely; the characters are broken, passionate and inspiring; the romance is intoxicating and intense. J. M. Stewart’s SEATTLE BACHELORS series is an enjoyable and impassioned look at four couples, four friendships and four happily ever afters.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

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Claiming the Billionaire has a lovable leading man in Staff Sergeant Tyler Benson and a not so likable leading lady, Cassandra Stephanopolous. For 3 years, Tyler was held as a POW in Iraq and suffered so much that you feel relieved when you find out he's alive. Now that he's home, he wants nothing more than to have Cassie back at his side, just like old times. Only, Cassie has closed off her heart. This won't be an easy task.

While the story was emotion-filled and I rooted for Tyler, there were moments I felt myself rooting against Cassie. I just didn't find her to be that likable. There were moments you can see her softening up, but the wall went back up almost immediately. I cheered at the end, but at times it hard to get there. Once you get pass all the frustration you have for Cassie, it's a nice love story between two people who had their lives changed in a matter of 3 years. I enjoyed the romance aspect of the story and who doesn't like a HEA?! I look forward to starting this series from the beginning.

***4 ‘All the Feels’ Stars***

After reading the preview/first chapter at the end of Bargaining for the Billionaire I knew two things. 1) I needed the book like yesterday (I know unrealistic, but it’s okay to be delusional every once in a blue moon) and 2) That it was going to be a major emotional roller coaster ride and dear lord was it. But it was totally worth it because what would you do if the man you love came back from the dead and wanted your heart back?

I loved Tyler and Cassie, I did, but holy hell did these two bring out all the feels ~ the good, the bad and the ugly ~ as they struggled with their new reality and the sins of their past. Cassie is sweet & sassy with an interesting quirk that comes out in certain situations, but she has abandonment issues that have her wrapping her heart in kevlar to keep the pain away. Tyler is trying to find his feet after being a POW/MIA for three years and surviving hell, but between the horrors he witnessed and survivor’s guilt he finds himself stuck with nowhere to go. My heart broke for Tyler and all he went through, but I loved him because despite what he went through he still had a this sweet and generous heart that still believed that hope exists.

Their romance is a second chance at love story and not only do they have to come to terms with what happened between them when Tyler left, which was pretty brutal, but with trusting themselves to be totally honest and open with each other. Their journey was rough and there were quite a few times when I wanted to Gibbs smack both of them, but it was necessary and worth it in the end. I loved how determined Tyler was and enjoyed watching Cassie take a chance with her heart. When they weren’t dancing around the issues between them they were fun, flirty and smexy as all get out. But more importantly they got each other and found that together they brought out the best in each other.


As with the previous books, the writing was engaging, the story was well paced and I liked the 3rd person dual POV. PTSD plays a huge role in the story and I thought it was handled with care and respect and there are situations brought up through it that some may feel are triggers, but they are not used in gratuitous nature. I loved catching up with the previous couples and the role they played in the book. I’ve enjoyed each book in the series and am sad to see it come to an end, but Claiming the Billionaire was a perfect way to say good-bye.

Overall love the book. Tyler is by far the best character. He is so raw and vulnerable. He comes back and is fighting not only for himself but the woman he loves that pushed him away: Cassie. While fighting for Cassie (who truly doesn’t deserve him after all she did and continued to do) he is struggling with the demons of being held captive during war by the enemy. He has flashbacks and has deep fear. His fear though only makes him lash out to protect and not harm. To tyler though there is no difference and he tries to stay away from Cassie at night but she pushes and he goes out of his comfort zone. So much that you see his bravery but also vulnerability. Tyler is awesome. So strong and real. He doesn’t hide behind any facade for he is what he is and lets you know it.

Cassie on the other hand will have you go grrr....She is selfish in the beginning. Her continual pushing Tyler away will drive you batty. It’s a good thing she has friends that have her see reason and that she starts to treat Tyler better or she truly would stay in the grrr...category. You can understand to a point her behaviour because it is done out of fear but sometimes it just goes way to far.

seeing the walls come down for Cassie is a nice sexy adventure. Watching them fall in love again and discover who each other is once more is alluring. Seeing tyler fight himself and try to come back and live is heartbreaking and warming. He fights for love and so he can have life once more.

This is a wonderfully sexy, endearing, raw story of second chances at love and letting go of your fears so something beautiful can blossom. An entertaining and endearing tale.

A second chance romance where the woman is the billionaire instead of the man. It had a different spin on the same old story. I thought this was going to be refreshing. I was sorta right.

I do like Tyler and his role in this book. I think he was sweet and charming. He does have PTSD and I like how he wanted to get help and work through that. My rating has come down to Cassie though. I disliked her so much I couldn't rate this book higher because of her. She was so selfish and self absorbed. It was all about what she wanted and not what he needed to the point it wasn't even funny. It took her waaaayyyyy to long to come around on that.

I think this is a "it's me not you" on this book. Most of my problems are all stuff that is my pet peeves. You might like this one so give it a shot if it sounds like your kinda thing.

Claiming the Billionaire is my first read by J.M. Stewart and it has definitely put her books on my radar! Despite the title, the billionaire trope is only a side aspect of this beautiful story of second chance, the reunion of two soul mates separated by insecurities and war.

Cassie Stephanopoulos’s life has been in limbo for three years. Before her boyfriend, Tyler Benson, was deployed to Iraq, he proposed but she turned him down. She was afraid of commitment and couldn’t handle the risk of losing him. But she could never put the past behind her and move on. Although she thought Tyler was dead, she never stopped waiting for him, hoping for a miracle to happen.

After three long and harrowing years, Tyler is back. He was held captive by insurgents and has managed to escape. He has been to hell and back, but he survived. Tyler isn’t the same person he was before, he is deeply scarred by the horrors he has endured in captivity. He suffers from post-traumatic stress, and adjusting to civilian life is not easy. Cassie is the reason why he wants to pick himself up and find help. He is determined, and refuses to give up on the woman he still loves. But he needs to convince her that he is back for good.

This book is an emotion filled read that takes you on a journey to Tyler and Cassie’s well deserved happily ever after. It’s their chance to come full circle and I enjoyed reading their story. The characters were well-developed and I loved the dynamics with their close-knit group of friends. I did find Cassie a bit too hesitant for my liking, though! This book is the fourth installment in the Seattle Bachelors series, but can be read as a standalone.

With the fourth in the Seattle Bachelors series, we get to see Cassie get a happy ending! It’s an emotion pulling, sexy read! You kind of want to dislike her because even after all that she’s felt while he was gone, she’s still putting up walls instead of admitting how she feels when he gets back, but finally when she admits her feelings, she becomes more likable as she stands by him through everything.

For over three years, billionaire Cassandra Stephanopoulos has regretted how things ended with her ex Tyler. She felt the need to guard her heart, and instead of speaking honestly, she said some hurtful things that she didn’t mean just before he deployed.

Staff Sergeant Tyler Benson went through more than anyone can imagine during his 3 plus years away … and he’s still living with the aftermath. He’s home, and his feelings for Cassie haven’t changed. He’s determined to get her to talk to him … even if he has to win her at the annual charity auction to get her alone!

I loved this book - I've read others in the series and this one has a similar feel to it. That said, it was HARD to read. The plot deals with PTSD in veterans and some pretty nasty stuff. (This isn't really a surprise - the hero was a POW for 3 years.) I think overall it was handled pretty well - I don't want to give any spoilers, but Ty is shown struggling and reaching out for help from friends, family, and professionals. He doesn't get better overnight. That said, it was still pretty hard to read. I loved the book, but my heart ached for the characters and I definitely would be careful about who I gave this one to. (Also, sexual assault is mentioned in the book, although there are no details given. That might be difficult for some readers.)

With the fourth installment of her Seattle Bachelor’s series, Claiming the Billionaire, J.M. Stewart has again written a very enjoyable book. Tyler and Cassie are interesting and complex. Their situation is compelling.

The last three years have been hard on Cassie. She’s been so steeped in regret that she’s been seeking peace of mind in all the wrong places with all the wrong men. Nothing is going to ease her pain over the way she treated the one man she’s ever loved though. Believing he’s dead, she doesn’t think there will ever be a chance to make amends.

Tyler’s hung onto his love of Cassie for the three years he spent as a POW. He regrets the argument he had with Cassie before he left for Iraq, too. He doesn’t have any doubts about Cassie being his one and only love though. He fears the ghosts who haunt him now add another perhaps insurmountable impediment to Cassie coming back to him.

Stewart does a really good job describing the challenges for both when dealing with Tyler’s PTSD. The situations with Tyler are very realistic. The tension is good while we watch the difficultly the two have coming to terms with so many issues. Can Tyler heal enough to not be a danger to Cassie?

Claiming the Billionaire is well written, at times gut-wrenching, tender, loving and hopeful.

reviewed by Jem