I was introduced to Jessica Lemmon's writing when I read her book, The Billionaire Bachelor which is also the first book in Billionaire Bad Boys series. I absolutely loved her book and her writing style and the rest is history. 

The Bastard Billionaire is the third book in Billionaire Bad Boys series and narrates the story of Eli Crane, the middle Crane sibling we all heard about repeatedly in the previous two books but meet as a hero first hand only in this story.

Eli Crane got wounded on duty and is now a honourably discharged Marine trying to piece together his life which does not involve getting a desk job in Crane Hotels but his family is relentless in their pursuit to draw him in the family business. 

I laughed, cried and wholeheartedly enjoyed Eli's gruff beastly behaviour to get all his family-appointed secretaries to flee and loved how the latest secretary and our heroine, Isabella Sawyer stood up to him.

Their chemistry is instant, hot and explosive. I absolutely loved this couple and enjoyed each and every twist and turn in their love story. Being a huge admirer of protagonists who brave all challenges and setbacks to make the best of their situation, I rooted for both Eli and Isabella.

Meeting the Crane family again was a pleasure and a delight to see all my favourite couples from this series living their dream life. 

The plot is expertly executed and the pace is racy, engaging and had me turning pages eagerly to know what happened next!

All in all, The Bastard Billionaire by Jessica Lemmon is the best book in this series and a real entertainer that I know I'll reread. 5 out of 5 stars to it from me and strongly recommended to all adult lovers of romance. Jessica Lemmon is a talented writer and an author whose writing I want to read more and more in the future.

I received an ARC from the author and the publishers and I am very thankful to them. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.

Eli Crane has recently returned home from his latest deployment. Forever changed by war, now discharged from the military, he is reluctantly working for his families business. His cranky attitude and his disinterest has him tearing through assistants. After firing or scaring away ten personal assistants, Isabella Sawyer, owner of Sable Concierge steps in to ensure she doesn't lose an important account such as the Crane's. From the minute they meet, it's evident this is story is going to sizzle.
We are given two strong and tenacious characters. Neither willing to back down. The attraction and chemistry between them is palpable, yet we must first witness the push and pull of denial and professionalism. These two really pulled me in with their banter and wit, as well as their drive.
I enjoyed watching them evolve throughout, slowly letting their walls come down. Allowing each other, and us, to see a different side. We were given whole, deep characters with all their strengths but also their vulnerabilities and insecurities. It was hard seeing them fight their feelings and their inability to move forward (Eli's specifically) was frustrating at times. The drama created by this kept me engaged and had me talking out loud to the characters.
I loved how Lemmon incorporated Eli's family into the story. This is my first book from her and while reading it's quite clear that it is not the first in the series. I fell in love with the secondary characters so much that I can't wait to go back and read their stories.
Erin

Eli book is the 3rd book in this series. Eli is cocky and hot an ex Marine who was injured and doesn't think he measured up. But his brothers think he can lead Crane hotel but hes going through assistance but lucky 11 is his match. Sable is a strong women and can stand up to him. But falling in love may be too much.Great book.

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

I've enjoyed this series by Jessica Lemmon. These Crane brothers have put their women through the wringer. LOL. This book features Eli Crane. He's a war veteran - amputee and appointed COO of Crane Hotels. He's not big on doing what he's been told now that he's out of the service and really just wants to wallow in his pity. Eli's brother, the CEO, hires a temp firm to fill the spot of Eli's Assistant. Being a difficult - on purpose - individual results in the owner of the temp agency to try her magic against the brooding billionaire. 

Isabelle Sawyer is determined to win with this difficult client. Being recommended by Crane Hotels could change the status of her already successful business to mega successful. How hard could this guy be right? HA! Jokes on her I think. Though Isabelle (Sable as Eli refers to her) is successful at staying more than one day; Eli sure does know how to push her buttons. 

Their attraction is evident in the way they react around each other. Though Eli is rather gun shy to even consider a relationship. Who would want an amputee, right? Sometimes people can't see what's right in front of them because they're too stuck in their own heads! 

This love story has quite a few trials. It was worth it in the end. I hope you will find Eli and Sable's love story as enjoyable as I did.

Eli Crane always knew he had a place in the family business, but he felt the need to serve his country more. The last thing he expected was to be sent home the way he was. His family is excited to have him home, but adjusting to his new normal is harder than he expected. Reese is pushing him to step up in the company, but Eli is working on a project close to his heart.

Isabella Sawyer is building her business and this new account could bring in some big referrals, but he's fired every PA she's sent to him. Therefore she's been forced to take drastic measures to keep his business. If he thinks he's going to run her off, he's got another thing coming... she's as stubborn as they come.

What started as a business arrangement quickly changes as the sexual tension builds. Even though they have sizzling passion, can they learn to move past their issues and embrace their future? Or will they be stuck and unable to move forward?

The Bastard Billionaire is a gripping, entertaining book that is full of hope and heart. Eli may have more issues to over come than Isa, but they both know that they have something special if they just fight for it. I really love how Isa sees the man Eli is inside and not just his physical appearance. Their banter is marvelous and witty. They don't back down from what they want.

The Bastard Billionaire is stunning conclusion to this superb series. It's a book that draws you in and keep you captivated until the end. Jessica's writing is incredible and makes you feel like the characters are a part of your family. I highly recommend anything by Jessica and especially The Billionaire Bad Boy series.

I love Jessica Lemmon. I've read all her books and I've loved each one.

I absolutely LOVED this one!It was realistic and this make me love it even more!Another part that I love in this story is the hero who was stubborn,sexy and omg so many things!!I loved him so much!!

The Bastard Billionaire turned out to be better than I could have expected. Why better?, because Jessica Lemmon took a story-line that could have been dark and angsty and made it the total opposite without fluffing the issues. Let me explain ... Our hero, Eli Crane, has serious PTSD. Not only does he have physical scars from his tours with the military, but emotional ones as well. Deep emotional ones. But the story didn't focus or zero in in on this. No, the story focused on Eli and Isa's journey. But she also didn't dismiss it or gloss over it. It was there. It was dealt with.

Now lets talk about these two crazy kids LOL I loved their characters hard. Their banter was addictive. They had chemistry and spark from the moment they met. I was sucked into this story quickly by them. Eli was developed so thoroughly that I could feel my heart both hurt and smile for him. And Isa was such a great match for him. She was fierce and independent and just plain strong! They were just perfect :) so it made for a one and done read (that's what I call it when I read a book in one sitting LOL).

I've enjoyed the story of these three brothers immensely. Each one of their stories can be read on their own, but together you not only get really good love stories, but also a very powerful family read. So read them all #TRUST

I really loved and enjoyed this book. Really a great story and an even better series. I have enjoyed this series so much. Cant wait to read more.

Classic grumpy guy meets his match in a fun and slightly quirky (in this case determined and high heel clomping) woman he can't live without. Fun to read.

I really enjoyed this 3rd book in Ms. Lemmon’s Billionaire Bad Boys series.  Eli is home after a devastating injury following an explosion where he lost part of his leg.  If that wasn’t enough, he lost two men from his team and he suffers that loss even more than he misses his leg.  He can’t wrap his head around the fact that he survived when two men had to die, both leaving behind wives and one also leaving behind children.  To cope, he’s burried himself in his work and prefers his solitude.  In an effort to draw him out, his dad and his brother’s and their wives force family dinners on him once a week and during this time they try their best to get him to agree to come work with them at the family business, Crane Hotels.  Toward that end, his eldest brother Reese has contracted a personal assistant for him.  Eli doesn’t need or want a personal assistant and he quickly gets rid of each one the agency sends over by being mean and gruff and in many cases, making them cry.  

After the 10th person gets “fired” Isabella Sawyer, owner of Sable Concierge, has no choice but to take on the beast that is Eli Crane herself.  She’s tough and she’s determined and she cannot fail.  The contacts she can make from a successful association with one of the Crane Hotel owners is too important to her business.  So, she passes on some of her responsibilities to her own assistant and arrives at Eli’s home to take over.

Eli has no idea that Isa is actually the owner of the agency that has been sending over assistants.  When she shows up, he’s his normal gruff and irritating self, but Isa sees right through him.  She is not about to let him run her off.  Eli, soon realizes that Isa is not going to cry and run off like the previous assistants.  And that makes an impression that he quickly decides that he likes. Isa, too, feels it...but she does not like it.

“The crackle in the air this time wasn’t a buzz of warning but of something else.  Something heavy and weighted. Unwanted attraction.
	The kind you feel for a man when you know that you shouldn’t.  The kind packaged to be tempting, but when you get close, learn that the enticing beauty is laced with deadly poison.
	The feeling was so strong, the pull so palpable, Isa struggled not to advance a step.”


Eli is the quintessential tortured hero and Lemmon writes him beautifully.  Eli is alive, but he can’t shake the guilt he feels that he survived the explosion and two men on his team died while saving him.  He’s done all the PT needed to master his prosthetic leg and he’s in great shape, but he still suffers bouts of phantom pain so debilitating it literally takes his breath away.  It was simply necessary to fall for Eli and feel every ounce of his angst. 

Isabella is a force of nature and I really liked how Lemmon portrayed her.  Isa comes from a family that came with certain expectations of her.  She did as she was told, went to the right college, studied the right curriculum.  She went into the family business. She met and dated the kind of man that she was expected to and everything seemed to be going according to plan until she realized the plan wasn’t hers.  So, much to her parents disappointment, she left the family business to strike out on her own.  Her business is doing great and so is Isa.

Eli and Isa get off to a bit of a rocky start, but it quickly moves toward something physical when Isa lets her guard down and starts to temp Eli.  They find that they are very compatible in more ways than one.  Though they discuss everything and are open and upfront about what they are looking for, they do realize that they have something special--they just take a cautious approach to it.

Eli and Isa have more in common then they realize as far as relationships go.  Eli’s previous girlfriend didn’t stick around long after he came back injured.  Her parting comment…”this is what I signed up for”, truly did a number on Eli and you can see deeply it affected him.  So much so, that it affects how he is with Isa.  Even as he realizes how much she means to him, he’s pushing her away.  

The conflict that breaks the blossoming relationship was expected, but perhaps necessary to push the couple past their relationship hangups. What was unexpected was who actually caused the conflict. I find in romance reading that the hero is often the one who makes a mistake that sends the heroine packing.  But in this instance, it appeared that Isa jumps the gun and then is disappointed in Eli’s reaction. She immediately blames Eli, and when she realizes her error, she’s the one who has to apologize. Everything is then wrapped up all neat and tidy-and while I demand a HEA in my romance, this felt a bit rushed at the end. 

Having said that, Ms. Lemmon has once again given us a well rounded romance, full of feeling and sprinkled with humor.  It is impossible not to want to see this couple find their way to love.

You know that saying “Dog that barks, doesn’t bite”? Well, these 5 words summon who Elijah Crane is; a man angry with the world but deep inside soft as a marshmallow. Personally, one of the most intriguing combination 😉 But let’s take it from the start…

The Bastard Billionaire is the third and new addition in the Billionaire Bad Boys series. Or as I call it, The Cranes Overload series. This time, we get to learn all about Eli, the third Crane brother who was serving the country in the army and he’s now back home. But with one leg less and uncountable amounts of anger, guilt and sadness flowing through his blood. Which leads to the record-time quitting of another after another after ANOTHER assistant his family assigns to help him. And obviously, he has a very very different opinion about that. Although, soon enough, he will get to feel what it’s like to walk into your house your other half. And… put you in your place nice and easy before you could say anything.

<b><i>She had a bark and a bite and wasn’t afraid to use either.</i></b>

The chemistry existing between them and the blinding sparks happening every time they were in the same room left me hungry for more.  And as time was passing and they were coming closer and closer, the wild, primal attraction that was surrounding them was growing with lighting speed into the truest form of love. But like any real couple, they had more than their fair share of ups and downs. There were times where the things would get completely out of hand and the challenge of fixing them up would turn out to be more than a bit …. challenging. Although, those were the moments when, more than anything, these two would prove both to everyone AND to each other that what they had was utterly real, deep and undoubtedly worth every obstacle.

<b><i>His heart pounded so hard, he might never recover. He might never want to. </i></b>

Both Eli and Isa are two of the most headstrong, stubborn and hard-working characters I have ever had the chance to meet. But, do not let the exterior foul you. Underneath all this thick skin they show, they hide the softest, overflowing with love capacity, sensitive hearts. They just needed each other so they could find the courage to let them open and finally feel what true love feels like. And how hard they fight not only to find themselves again, but also so their love can last forever is more than heart-warming and wonderful to witness.

What makes Billionaire Bad Boys one of the best series I have read isn’t the intense loves stories each book introduces. What makes it great is all its stories is about family. Neither of its three couples wouldn’t be where they are without the powerful family bonds supporting them. They may not play the same important role to each one, but that doesn’t change the fact that more than the half percent of the transformation the characters go through is happening when the family bonds intervene.

Jessica Lemmon never stops surprising me with how surprising unsurprising each of her books is. Each story casts its own special spell and never fails to claims a piece of my heart.  Just like Every. Single. of their characters. I can’t recommend Jessica’s books enough. She is a real talent and the way her minds comes up with ways to maneuver each story is really amazing.

4 Stars

I was pulled right into this story. The story has laughs, pain, secrets, and heartbreak. 

Before reading this story please read the below books first:
The Billionaire Bachelor (Billionaire Bad Boys #1)
The Billionaire Next Door (Billionaire Bad Boys #2)

This is Isabella and Eli’s story. After being injured and discharged from the Marines Eli just wants to be left alone. His brothers want him to take a role in the family business but he has already gone through ten personal assistants. Isabella’s employment agency just can’t afford to lose the Crane’s business. She will just have take him on herself. If she can please him then she can secure her agency with the wealthy elite. But when they met sparks fly. Can they keep their hands off? Will she be able to work with him or will pleasure be all they can get to? 

I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read. 


I recommend this book.

THE BASTARD BILLIONAIRE is book three in Jessica Lemmon's Billionaire Bad Boys series. This is my favorite book in the series. This story starts out with two alphas butting heads when savvy businesswoman Isabella Sawyer meets reluctant businessman, and grumpy wounded Marine, Eli Crane. As the owner of an employment agency, she has to take the place, and take on the challenge, of being the only assistant not scared away by Eli and his antisocial antics. I was worried at first that a big chunk of the plot would involve Eli not knowing that Isabella was hired by his family, but thankfully Jessica Lemmon goes in a completely different direction with her characters.

What starts out as a somewhat antagonistic relationship at the very beginning, takes a sharp detour into the realm of simmering sexual tension. Lemmon definitely brings the heat in THE BASTARD BILLIONAIRE. Isabella and Eli begin a sexually charged game of tit for tat that gets them both worked up. One of the things that elevates this story for me, is the way that Eli and Isabella quickly, yet very organically, grow to like each other. Having the main characters have a friendship as well as an attraction makes me like them more. Both Isabella and Eli enjoy being independent, and that independence is both one of their greatest assets as well as something that they struggle with when it comes to being in a romantic relationship. I like how the heroine and hero both have some of the same struggles and baggage from former relationships. These things they have in common help stitch them together, and provide each other with a rare confidant and somebody who understands them like no other. Lemmon does an amazing job of balancing the romance and relationship drama with Eli's unresolved issues from when he was a soldier. I love how Eli and Isabella are able to empathize with and respect each other.

THE BASTARD BILLIONAIRE has sparks, sizzle, and sensational storytelling. Isabella's friend and Eli's family try to encourage their fledgling relationship and offer unsolicited, and often amusing, advice along the way. Lemmon packs emotional punch along with the red-hot romance. The ending of THE BASTARD BILLIONAIRE provides a satisfying cap on this fiery and deeply enjoyable romance. As a fan of Jessica Lemmon and her writing, I look forward to her next book.

I love Elijah Crane!I love Jessica Lemmon and her books!She could probably write some technical manual too and I'd still read it happily.
The Crane brothers have ruined my life.I don't know what I will read next after this.I guess I'll just console myself with the fact that she has another set of books coming out soon.(Hint hint : please release them soon!)

Eli has just returned from Marine life.He was injured and now has a prosthetic leg.Not only does he have to deal with the loss of a limb and a life that he lived for, but also the guilt about surviving while his friends didn't.Now his family is trying to bring him back by getting him to work for the company.But he isn't interested in that and he needs to resolve so many things before he can even decide on what to do.So he keeps scaring off his PA's like a beast.

Isabella is losing all options.Eli keeps sending off all the PA's that she sends, and since she needs the Crane family name to bring up her concierge service business to an even bigger level,she is ready to be his PA for a while till thins get settled.She has singlehandedly started and grown her business to this level, despite the scorn from her family who look down on her for not following the successful family business and marrying the "perfect" fiance.So she isn't going to lose it over a man who just likes to act all scary to avoid things.
But will she lose her heart?

I love how Eli and Isabella fit with each other perfectly.Though they weren't looking for someone, they were just what the other needed.I loved how she put him in his place and managed to get the work done!
And it wasn't like he was super mean either.He was just a little surly,rude and jerk-ish.The chemistry between them was off the charts!They're my favorite couple now(Yep!They've over taken Reese and Merina)!
The way in which they helped each other and made each other better was beautiful.Eli is lucky to have a family like the Cranes and each brother even luckier for the women in their lives.Their mother's death has impacted each one of them differently, and they have things to work through before they're ready.But in the end it's all worth it!
It was lovely seeing Reese,Merina,Tag,Rachel and Papa Crane again!Ill surely miss them!

If you haven't read any of these books yet, then please do!They're all standalones and very well written with the right amount of everything!There's no way you wouldn't fall in love with these books!

You can also find my reviews of the other books in the series here:
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1681775569">The Billionaire Bachelor</a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1792801653">The Billionaire Next Door</a>

The Bastard Billionaire is the third installment in the Billionaire Bad Boys series. It is the story of the last elusive Crane brother, Eli.
Eli suffered a career ending injury that has made it hard to reacclimate into society. His brothers try to help by getting him to work with them. The only problem is that he makes every personal assistant they send his way packing just as quickly. That is, until the owner of the employment agency decides to step in and take the position herself to save her business. Isabella is the one girl he doesn’t want to send away. But will mixing business with pleasure cause them problems?
I really enjoyed this book! Eli has been a mystery for this entire series so it was nice to finally get his story. The chemistry between Eli and Isabella was flaming hot and it was fun to read.

When I first stared this book I thought this was not going to be what I expected but it was so much more! I loved the characters, how they connected and the pull between Isabella and Eli.

Eli was a hard ass solely because of the tragedy he faced in the service.  He was injured while on tour and never got over the fact that two of his friends died.  The guilt he carried for the deaths has pulled him into a depression that he can't and doesn't want to get out of.  His life is not of the core but his family business, where he doesn't want to be.

Eli is hard to work with and chooses to be the hard ass that everyone hates so his assistants walk away but when Isabella comes to the "rescue" he has finally met his match.

Isabella is a no nonsense type of girl who will not take crap from anyone and she will fight for what she wants.  The strain on her relationship with her family only makes her stronger and pulls her into Eli's world.

The dynamic of Eli and Isabella is so good.  There is joking, protectiveness and laughter when it needs to be.  The pull between the two of them is undeniable and once they get together, it's explosive.

I loved this story and I can't wait to read the first two books in the series and more books by Jessica Lemmon.

(I will be sharing a BIT of a spoiler about the ending later but I will be giving you fair warning so you can read some of the review if you want and then stop at the *s)

I’m thinking that Isabella needs to hire some people with a little more backbone.  What we see of Eli isn’t all that pleasant but he’s carrying a lot.  He’s struggling to find his way again and unfortunately his family keeps pushing him to be what they want him to be.  Granted he’s a TERRIBLE communicator and is keeping a lot to himself so they don’t know what is going on with him.  I get why he’s not sharing but it might make his life a little easier if he’d just be a little more forthcoming with those that love him  :)

Buuuut, that would mean that he’d never have met Isabella.  And she’s exactly what he needs.  She’s not going to take his crap.  Instead she’s working hard to make things work with the Crane company and, as she gets to know him better, for Eli himself.  He’s sexy and troubled and all sorts of growly but what he really needs is someone to push him, stand up to him, and support him.  It’s a fine line she has to dance on but she’s got the guts and smarts to do it.

**I’m kinda giving away a little bit of a spoiler next so if you don’t want to know any more STOP HERE**

Kinda like with The Billionaire Next Door I was a little confused toward the end.  I think that if we’d be given a better look at Isabella’s relationship with her ex and why she would feel like she HAD to have a commitment right then (when I’m pretty sure they were only a few weeks into knowing each other) it might have been different.  But really I just wanted to give Eli a hug and tell him that I’d give him the time that he needed.  But once she gets her head out of a place it isn’t supposed to be then she definitely makes up for it well.

**End Spoiler**

As an ending to Lemmon’s series about the Crane brothers The Bastard Billionaire is a winner.  Eli is deliciously gruff but redeemable and Isabella is a strong match for him.  She helps him figure his new life out and learn to embrace the future.  Bringing the fun, heat and tons of emotions, Lemmon proves once again that she’s a fabulously talented author!

Iam  love the Billionaire Bad Boys series by Jessica Lemmon so when I got to read  a copy of  The Bastard Billionaire early I was so excited . I dived into this book as soon as  I could and  I loved it ! 

I was so excited!  when I  realized that this was Eli's books , I have been really eager to find out  more about him from the first time I heard about him .  Reading about Eli and Isabella  was just so much fun .When you first look at them  they look like complete opposites but as they become closer you  begin to see that  they are  more similar in ways that you dont  expect and also  absolutely perfect  for each other. I loved every  minute of there love story I smiled ,I laughed , I  fanned my self lol and I was even worried when they were fighting ,  I was so invested in these two characters .I felt that Jessica Lemmon created a  wonderful love story  between Eli and Isabella and I had the biggest  grin when I saw how there story wrapped up, It was perfect .I also loved that we got to  to  see what the characters  from the other  books in this series where up to .There was so much  happening in this story  and I loved that .I could not  but this book  down it was so so good.

The Bastard Billionaire was  a sexy ,fun , emotional story .It makes me sad knowing that this is last book  in the series but happy because I know that all of the Crane Brothers got there  versions of Happily Ever After . I  cannot wait to see what Jessica Lemmon writes next .If you love all these things in your books. you should definitely pick up a copy .