Cover Image: Chicago Billionaires - Contemporary Romance Series Boxed Set

Chicago Billionaires - Contemporary Romance Series Boxed Set

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Fantastic series full of twists and turns. I originally read these books individually and I read Book 3 first and was never lost. Each of these books can absolutely be read as a stand-alone, but I did find the experience to be richer reading them in order (and back to back)

While there is a little repetition, there is enough difference to each story that it never got boring. The timelines flow well, details are provided when needed and there is a comfort to the style of writing.

This is a boxed set I would recommend.

Was this review helpful?

I have read all of Ms. Hawthorne's books and they are fast-paced, sexy and absolute fun to read. I was pleasantly surprised at the strength and intelligence of the female characters in all her novels. It is rare to fine strong, independent women in romance novels, but not in Ms. Hawthorne's books. All her female characters are smart, strong and authentic. One lead female was pregnant and single; another was not described as tall and thin, but rather as full figured, another was a single mom. How real is that! Every female can relate to these women and that puts Ms. Hawthorne a step above the rest!!

Was this review helpful?

Hot romances with good stories. Covering architecture and history as the romantic stories unfold. Containing humour, a touch of mystery, with erotic sensual teasers.
Good read.

Was this review helpful?

CLOSER - 4 Stars
Sven is a billionaire architect that is going blind and doesn't want anyone to know. He needs a fake girlfriend to help him navigate the celebrate of the opening of his architectural creation, The Sphere. Inez is a single mother struggling to make ends meet when she is offered the job that will definitely help her with supporting her daughter and grandmother ... all she has to do is pretend to be Sven's girlfriend. But what happens when he wants Inez in his bed and she is starting to have feelings for him? Throw in an ex-boyfriend and an ex-girlfriend that don't want to be exes at all ... and you have a book with twists and turns, humor, romance and heartbreak. I thoroughly enjoyed this book ... cover to cover.

EXES - 4 1/2 Stars
This is the 1st book that I have read from this author, and I quite enjoyed it. Alma divorced Harvey a year ago because he wasn't the same man she married. He used to love going on antique hunts with her and help her to preserve the past, but he has become a real estate developer and now wants to build the tallest buildings in the world ... tearing down the past. Alma is still in love with the "old" Harvey. Then one night Alma gets a text from a stranger and they begin a sexting affair. When this stranger wants to meet in person, she is torn between the 2 men. She wants to move on, but all of a sudden Harvey keeps showing up in her life. Alma is a Chicago's leading expert in historic stained glass and the building Harvey plans to bulldoze down apparently has more than a dozen stained glass windows and Alma is sent to evaluate them. I found the banter between the exes quite entertaining ... and Alma's sister is just hilarious (she needs her own book, because there is definitely a story there). That's pretty much all I can say without spoiling the book for others ... because this is a MUST read!

PRICELESS - 3 Stars
Maribel has worked at a department store for the last 10 years with the last 8 in the fine jewelry department. Then the day before Valentine’s Day, Miles (the billionaire who works upstairs) comes to her counter and asks her out. The chemistry between them is undeniable but their worlds are very different ... will they be able to overcome the differences? Although the premise of the book is good, I found it a little cheesy at times ... but the sex scenes were HOT and made up for It!

DEVOTION - 4 1/2 Stars
Isabel found herself at 24 alone and pregnant. The only person that would hire her was Phillip ... a British billionaire who made his fortune in real estate. Five years later, Isabel gets 3 dozen pink roses with a card that says "This is only the beginning" and then the gifts become more expensive and personal. But she has no idea who they are from ... Jett a co-worker; Gary her bosses lawyer; Eliot her bosses business rival or Phillip her boss. Nothing or no one is who they seem to be. This book will keep you guessing till the end! And wow ... the sex scenes! Isabel lost herself in the pleasure of being treated like a woman. A great read.

I received a copy courtesy of French Kiss Press through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

Was this review helpful?

So sometimes it's hard to rate a collection in one shot but not this one. I enjoyed books one three and four. Book two wasn't my thing. But seriously this author can write and each story had such strong personality that you couldn't help but get drawn in! I am so excited to have added an new to me author to read.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Review of Closer by Aria Hawthorne

AC received from Netgallery in exchange for an honest review

5 star rating - off the charts so good - ❤d this book !!

I have definitely discovered a new author I love ! Aria Hawthorne writes with incredible humor & emotion that grabs you from the first few chapters! Or to be perfectly honest just a few pages into Closer I knew I was going to really love Sven's & Inez story.

Sven is a world renowned architect having just completed one of the most prestigious projects in the city of Chicago's history. He is hiding a secret that has the potential to ruin his career. Enter Inez - a smart , funny , sarcastic , feisty ( words fail to describe how much I love this character !!! ) ... did I mention , beautiful , selfless & the caring young Mom of beautiful 3 month old Luna. She lives with and is the caretaker as well of her grandmother the only real support system in her life & someone she loves dearly.

Inez is hired as Sven's PA but not in the way you would think ! Her job is to play Sven's fake girlfriend to help keep his secret that he is losing his eyesight . What ensues is a story that reminds you that sometimes you can be blind to love even when it's right in front of you.

This book is one I would definitely read again & one I didn't want to end !



Review of The Exes by Aria Hawthorne

PAC in exchange for an honest review

LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!

From the first few chapters I was totally rooting for Harvey & Alma to get back together. They have been divorced about a year & not seen each other. You can tell they still have feelings for each other as well as unresolved issues.

Harvey is a self made billionaire who seems to have lost what's always been most important to him- Alma but how to win her back ? Alma is an expert with antiques specifically Tiffany stained glass. They are thrown back together when Alma is called in to inspect some potentially priceless artifacts on some property that is Harvey's latest BIG deal.

A secondary character hatches a plan to get them both back together ! This book is laugh out loud funny , seriously romantic & sexy as well as having a really interesting plot! There is also one of the best HEA !!

Highly recommend this book & now have discovered a new author. I definitely want to check out more books by this author.

5 star read !!!


ARC Review of Priceless by Aria Hawthorne

Another great read by Aria ! I was lucky enough to get to read an advanced reader copy as part of the Chicago Billionaires series. Each book was SO outstanding ...

In Priceless we meet Miles & Maribel they come from very different worlds. Miles found success & made his billions in Chicago real-estate. On the outside it seems like Miles has it all - all the trappings that define wealth & success. He has become disillusioned & somewhat jaded .... Maribel has been pretty much a loner most of her young life the product of a single parent household. She is a shop girl - working in retail at Fields Dept store having worked her way up to fine jewelry. What she doesn't know is that Miles has been watching her from afar & for many years. A few days before Valentines Day Miles decides it's time to seek Maribel out under the guise of needing her assistance with making a jewelry purchase she thinks is for his girlfriend. Little does she know the gift is for her & what ensues are several romantic encounters as they slowly get to know each other. Maribel is in no means impressed by Miles wealth - she is however somewhat intimidated by all his wealth & success. All she wants however is for him to be happy during the time they spend together.
This is such a touching story ! I loved every minute of it and could not put it down. Aria writes very true to life romance with that bit of escapism !! 5 stars for this fabulous read - a reminder that love in and of itself is truly Priceless ❤️❤️

Was this review helpful?

This is a collection of four full length novels that are loosely connected. Each does stand alone but it would be beneficial to read them in order as printed. Aria Hawthorne was a new author to me a few months ago when I read the second novel in the series. She soared to the top ten of my author list and will stay there if she continues to write novels as compelling and complex as these are. Well developed characters and accuracy in her location. Of course it helps that they are set in Chicago and I used to live there!

Book one, Closer, features a foreign born architect, Sven van der Meer, who is going blind. He has to finish one last project before it becomes a well-known fact and he loses his entire career and fortune. Unemployed and desperate for a job, Inez Sanchez interviews with him and takes the job because he offers her a ridiculous amount of money to be his companion/date for four days. She’s got a child and ailing grandmother to care for so there isn’t any question but to take him up on the offer. In the interim, things get interesting and we get the HEA we all expect. Good writing all the way to the end.

Exes is the second book and is about Harvey Zale and his ex-wife Alma Castillo. He is determined to revitalize the real estate market by demolishing old building and creating new ones. She is just as sure she can stop him from destroying artifacts in those buildings. They begin a texting relationship with strangers until Harvey figures out who he is texting. He changes his voice and creates complex scenarios and ‘dates’ where she is unable to see him. She’s the one who got away from him and he really wants her back. The secrecy is a bit of a stretch but it keeps the story flowing in the hot encounters between them. Another HEA with some mystery for the next book.

Maribel Martinez works for Miles Braxton-Worth in the jewelry department of ones of his holdings. He’s had his eye on her for months but stays away because he knows that employer-employee relationships are bad for both of them. As Valentine’s Day arrives and he finds out that she has no date, he begins his seduction with expensive gifts. A former lover who wants him back, finds out that he’s taken a liking to Maribel. She loses her job because of it and the agent tries to make his life miserable for rejecting her. Miles is willing to give it all up for Maribel and tells her so. There are twists and turns that keep you reading past your bedtime. In the end, another HEA for all your effort!

And finally, Devotion wraps up the series. In this final story, Phillip Spears is the billionaire employer of Isabel Alvarez, took her under his wing when she applied for a job with him. He has molded her into a sharp, capable executive assistant who is his right hand. As a Brit, he too has some things to learn about life in the US, but he simply can’t ignore his attraction to her. When he does decide to cross that boundary, he finds that a rival business associate is challenging him with her as well. A few secrets are revealed and things take a dramatic turn – for the worse. You get the HEA but it does take some work.

Love how this author keeps things moving around so you aren’t sure what will happen!

I was provided an ARC by NetGalley for an honest and unbiased review. I was not promised nor did I receive any compensation for this.

Was this review helpful?

Amazing set of books that you wont want to put down u just love this author, i really enjoyed these,i have read a couple of these books before and enjoyed then just as much this time round.Would recommend to all.

Was this review helpful?

The collection of the Chicago Billionaires is worth every penny.

Each of the leading men brought something different to the table.

I loved Sven's personality and his devotion to his craft.
I hated Harvey, well thru most of the book but he did redeem himself in the end.
Miles, OMG what can one say about him. I loved how he carried himself.
Phillip was just so charismatic.

Each man will offer you an escape from reality and an adventure that will not disappoint..

Was this review helpful?

It was nice having all of these stories in one set. Can't go wrong with four powerful billionaires & the women that "tame" them. Highly recommend reading all of these stories. Once you start, you won't want to put it down.

Was this review helpful?

What a fantastic set of books. Each book is about different characters with there own stores. This author has a fab way sucking you into the story and keeping you reading long into the night. All the characters in each of the stories are very well written and have fantastic chemistry. This is a contemporary romance box set that is a must read. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.
Highly recommended
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this \book.

Was this review helpful?

Awesome set of stories! I had read one of the books in the series (Exes) so when I saw the set I knew I had to read the rest of them. I likeed how all the stories had characters that carried over but each book could be read as a stand alone. I also liked how each story was written in a different style. And the bonus was the interesting history of Chicago that was infused in each story.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Was this review helpful?

There are four books contained in this set. Each of the books are about billionaires but each is unique.
Closer: Excellent contemporary billionaire romance. This was an excellent read. Sven is an architect with a gift of building marvellous buildings. He is some health issues. He intends to hire someone to help him deal with maneuvering through social settings. Inez is hired by Sven to help him deal with public. They claim to be boyfriend and girlfriend. Both main characters each have secrets they don't want exposed. Unfortunately former lovers are into causing chaos go. I received a complementary copy of this book and chose to write a review. I look forward to reading future books by this author.
Exes: Wow, this was an excellent contemporary billionaire romance. Alma is one of the leading antique window and jewelry appraisers. She and her father work together to give estimates and preserve the past. One of her favorites is Tiffany. Harvey is a billionaire who isn't worried so much about the past as he is about his worth. I really enjoyed the constant banter these two characters have thoughout the story. They are now exes and were married until a year ago. Ms. Hawthorne gives little tidbits into their past while trying to build their future. There are surprises twists and turns for the readers enjoyment. I received a complementary copy of this book and chose to write a review. Looking forward to reading future books by this author.
Priceless: Excellent contemporary billionaire romance. Miles was an excellent student and became a millionaire in his early 20's. He worked and played hard all while making more and more money. Maribel has worked at his department store, since she was a teenager, for a decade now. She has worked hard, often staying late or coming in early. During that time she moved up into more difficult positions as Miles stayed in the background watching to see if she's stay true to her dedication, she did. Their relationship takes a sudden change. There are ups and downs as well as personal hardships that make these two main characters come together and work on a relationship. I received a complementary copy of this book and chose to write a review. This book is part of the: Chicago Billionaires set. I look forward to reading future books by Ms. Hawthorne.
Devotion: Awesome contemporary billionaire romance. Isabel found herself pregnant and forced to drop out of college. Phillip hired her and taught her what she needed to know to become his executive assistant. They have worked together for five years. Suddenly Isabel has a secret admirer who send her expensive gifts in her favorite colors. It unnerved her that someone knows so much about her but after being a single mother for five years it also excited her. Then problems arise at work and Philips former business partner and chief competitor is trying to lure Isabel. I enjoyed the way Ms. Hawthorne have out tiny tidbits to keep the readers desire to turn the page. I very much look forward to reading future books by this author.

Was this review helpful?

Quick Summary: Hit, miss, hit, huh
Story 1: 4/5
Story 2: 0/5 (This story never really took off for me. It was so difficult to move forward and beyond it that I almost stopped reading the entire collection. It truly was a DNF.)
Story 3: 4/4
Story 4: 3-/5
Overall Rating: 2.75/5

Was this review helpful?