This book is a good fit for readers looking for a steamy contemporary romance with a focus on power dynamics, obsession, and the transformation of a relationship.

Rafe was what his father considered a troubled child so he sent him away to live with his grandfather until he could control himself. Well, if that doesn't instill some resentment towards your family what will?

Ella was merely a little girl when Rafe was sent away but she was always told to stay away from him that he was no good. But when Ella lost both of her parents years earlier Rafe's father is the one that was given guardianship of her trust. Only now things are about to change...and she finds out when she requests money from her trust so she can attend a summer class at a dance school in Paris.

I will admit that this story took a while for me to get into and I cannot pinpoint why. I thought the story was well written and I enjoyed the characters but there was something just not clicking for me. This was a steamy retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and I have to say I love when Rafe called Ella Little Red.

This is the final book in the Billionaire Fairy Tales Series which follows the four de Santis brothers, each of the books can be read as a standalone. Start from the beginning or jump in now it doesn't matter because each story focuses on one brother and it doesn't end on a cliffhanger.

If you enjoy Fairy Tale Retelling's, Age Gap Romances, or Steamy slightly dark Romances then this is a book for you.

Happy Reading!!!

Ella and rafe had a rough childhood. ELLA lost both parents within a month of each other and only had her grandmother which was in poor health. Rafe had anger issues and was sent to his grandfather's where he was tortured for many years. Coming home he was determined to get back at his father and to get back the woman that never thought he was scary.

Oh Jackie Ashenden knows how to deliver a great billionaire romance! I was captivated from the first page to the last!

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

This was a decent story and I somewhat enjoyed both the hero and the heroine, Rafe and Ella. However, nothing really stood out making it a great book.

Sexy, primal, dangerous Rafe is back. Overcoming a brutal and punishing youth at the cruel and sadistic hands of his grandfather, Rafe has a plan. The destruction of his father will be a nice and lovely start. Quite frankly, I'm rooting for Rafe as his negligent father deserve his distain. This is supposed to be a reinterpretation of "Little Red Riding Hood".

As a fan of reinterpreted erotic versions of fairy tales, I picked this story up. I couldn't quite see the wolf, grandmother, Red and the hunter in this story. Instead, I am taken into an intensely focused stalker like story with Rafe hunting down the only female he wants, Ella. Ella as a child loved being around Rafe. He was her big protector. This changed when the adults scared her from him. She never forgot him, just stored her cherished memories of him in a locked box in her mind. When the two meet again, sparks fly.

This is a deliciously erotic novel with an alpha male determined to woo and win the innocent young female. I guess one could say that Rafe has wolfish behaviours. This is an enjoyable erotica recommended for readers who enjoy ruthless males with a hearts of gold.

New twist on Little red riding hood.
Rafe De Santis is big bad wolf. He always had a temper and when he was 13 years old, his out burst and his father to sent him to his grandpa. After hiding his temper, he is back at the top of his father's company as a CEO. Now he will get evertyhing he ever wanted. That is his forever love Ella, the innocent ballerina.
All Ella ever wanted was to a ballerina and go to summer ballet program in Paris. She loved what she was doing and she was determined to go. However her trust fund won't be released and she will have to get approval from his guardian Mr. De Santis. When Rafael shows up and tells her he will be his new guardian.
Rafe wanted Ella but he knew she won't come to him so he decided to make her work for her summer program. He remembers Ella being not afraid of him and loving him for who he was when she was a just a toddler. He wanted that from her again and he is willing try everything.
Ella's world was her grandmother and ballet. Now Rafe comes back and throws curveball on her summer plan. If Ella wants to go to Paris, she will have to fulfill Rafe's wishes. First have a dinner with him but it doesn't end well. Ella couldn't even finish the dinner and runs away from him. Is she really afraid of him or what will happen afterwards?
Will Wolf and Red Riding Hood find their happily ever after? Is he a really a wolf?
This could be standalone. I have read several from this series and all of them has dark theme but it will bright by the ending.
Thanks to Swerve and Netgalley for my arc in exchange for honest review.

Ella grew up knowing Rafe. Her parent always steered her away from him because he was so mean. Her parents died and her grandmother raised her. Ella's coping mechanism was dancing her heart out in ballet. She's has dreams of going to school in Paris and because she's a trust fund baby it'll be easy enough to accomplish once she asks her guardian for the money. He's never denied her before so she doesn't think it'll be an issue. However, little did she know that Rafe is now her guardian...the man she's feared since she was a child. He won't give her the money without some "conditions".

Rafe was sent away when he was a child because of his temper and uncontrollable actions. Unfortunately, his guardian wasn't the best choice and Rafe is now out of control in a different way. He seeks revenge on his father because of it and he wants to possess Ella. He knew her when she was younger and she adored him. He was very possessive over her and very kind. Then, one day she was frightened of him. He was determined she would be his forever!

Will Ella give into his black mail to get the money to study in Paris? She has no idea Rafe has been stalking her at the ballet for years! Can Rafe restore Ella's love for him from when she was a child?

Rafe was a little disturbing, but I totally enjoyed his character!! Ella was a strong person even though she didn't know it and I love how Rafe showed her! Great story!

Themed as Little Red Riding Hood and the Big bad Wolf and read as a standalone in her modern fairytale series about the de Santis family. It’s based on that particular fairytale because he calls her Little Red. All. The. Time.

Ella struggles with anxiety. Rafe has issues controlling his emotions and anger. How his grandfather taught him to control himself was just $&@?/ up and led him to cutting himself to manage his pain. This part was unresolved other than “we’ll support each other” and not addressing getting professional help is a disservice.

Rafe’s manipulations and over the top controlling and cocky behavior was creepy. I also struggled with his long fixation on her and that she’s only 20 (and he’s much older). Same with the last book, the H treats the h like a child.

In the end, I was stunned she was the one to apologize to him for not trying hard enough to stand by him. He’s screaming in her face, threatening and degrading her, etc. nope.

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

When Rafe was young he had trouble controling his emotions and had tantrums and rages. His parents couldn’t be troubled with a problem child and sent him- when he was fourteen- to his grandfather who was a very cruel and abusive man. His grandfather said he would fix him and he did, his ways were horrible and Rafe had the scars to prove it. Rafe knew he wasn’t really fixed but he had learned to control his emotions. Only let others see what he wanted them to see. Rafe was eventually sent home to his parents but Rafe vowed he would get revenge on his father. Over the years Rafe slowly planned a takeover of his father’s business D S Corp- the biggest weapons and security company in the U. S. . He got his takeover. Rafe forced his fathers retirement. But there is one other thing- the woman -Ella- has obsessed over since he was a boy. The only one who liked him as he was, and even accepted him.Rafe had been a hero to Ella when she was young she had learned to hate Rafe after he was sent to his grandfathers. But than she was turned against him by her parents, his parents and other who told her to stay away from Rafe as he was trouble. Ella was the daughter of one of Rafes fathers oldest friends. She is a ballerina is a minor N U dance company. Rafe has known Ella since she was two years old. Since he was back Rafe had occasionally seen Ella. Ella didn’t remember Rafe as she grew up. Ella lost her parents a long time ago and Rafe’s father had been her guardian but now Rafe was. Ella really wants to attend a summer dance program in Paris. But she needs the funds approved to do that and Rafe is the only one who can do that. Since the first time Rafe had seen Ella dance it has calmed him. Rafe had wanted to start seeing Ella when she was eighteen but his father said no. The only time Ella’s fears are quiet was when she danced. Ella finds finds Rafe intimidating and he both scares and fascinates her as she sees past the false smile and hollow charm. . But she forgets her fears when she is with Rafe. As Ella and Rafe spend time together she gets confused. Ella doesn’t trust Rafe when he says he wants to take her to dinner, a night out. Ella has an intense attraction to Rafe. Rafe does blackmail Ella to do as he wants so she can go to the summer program in Paris. Things start to get sexual but Rafe doesn’t push Ella into anything without her consent. Ella realizes she can bring Rafe to his knees if she really wanted to. Ella is also shown she has a lot of inner strength.
I enjoyed this book a lot. But I did have some issues with it. I didn’t particularly care for how Rafe manipulated everyone especially Ella. But I did love Rafe and Ella together and how she did learn to stand up to him. But I did understand why Rafe did a lot of what he did. I really did how dedicated Rafe was to Ella. How he started to open up to her also. I think this should have been a little longer and seen Rafe and Ella a couple of months or so later. This was based on a modern Little Red Riding Hood and Rafe was a fit choice for the big bad wolf. But Ella helps Rafe to start to change. The first page caught my attention and held it until the end. I really liked Ella’s grandmother Aurora that Ella was living with. I really liked the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I recommend it.

Brilliant read with all the things I enjoy in a book with a brilliant storyline and characters and I will look forward to reading more from you from this author thank you for my arc

The related saga continues, this time with Rafe de Santis, a tortured and ruthless billionaire who orchestrated his rich and powerful father's downfall.

In the midst of all this business treachery and angst, is innocent Ella. Kept from him when he was an angry teen, he has always wanted her. Fascinated by her artful dancing, he watched and waited for her.

This over the top alpha male over protective dominant hero can barely control himself when he sees her as an adult all grown up. Both fathers are against their relationship even though Rafe has made his intentions early and honorably. He is finally finished with waiting, and this is where the story takes off.

Taking over his father's role as Ella's legal guardian, Rafe is ready to make his move on Ella. Shy and wary of him, she cannot deny the attraction she feels toward him.

This cat and mouse relationship was entertaining and sexily romantic as Rafael purposefully focuses on Ella and making her his. He uses her love of ballet and dance as a means to getting what he wants, but in the meantime, true feelings develop between this couple.

The author really knows how to create a steamy scene full of graphic and intense moments. The chemistry is palpable between these two, but even more so for Rafe as he is almost obsessed with little spunky Ella.

Very well written Romance to be read again and again!

This was my first Jackie Ashenden book, and I enjoyed it.

The characters had depth, the romance was rife with tension, the emotional push-pull was beautifully done. The only reason I didn't give this book a 5 was because there just wasn't enough chase. I like my alpha billionaires to chase--and this book had a Little Red Riding Hood theme! It would have been a perfect opportunity to put some delicious chases in this book.

Anyway...well written story. Will be reading more from this author.

Rafe de Santis has just successfully completed his five year plan to take over DS Corp, his family business. He’s forced his father’s retirement and is now CEO, and it feels great. Rafe can now direct his attention to his next goal – Ella Hart. The previous generation of the Hart and de Santis families were great friends, and when Ella’s parents died, Rafe’s father was named as her guardian. Rafe has also managed to have that responsibility transferred to him, as he proceeds to work on having Ella completely in his power.



As a teenager, Rafe was prone to having fits of rage, causing everyone to fear and avoid him – everyone, that is, except Ella, who was a mere toddler at the time. She adored Rafe, and followed him around, and he relished the attention from someone who appeared to genuinely love him. When one of his temper tantrums leads to physical violence, Rafe is sent away to live with his grandfather, whose severe punishments damaged Rafe’s psyche even further. I admit to being taken aback at learning that Rafe’s method of controlling his rages was self mutilation. I mention this as it may be a trigger item for some readers, and was not something I was comfortable reading about. There are other facets of Rafe’s character that took me totally out of my comfort zone, for example, his withholding Ella’s fortune from her unless she was willing to perform favors for him. Again, I think this may be another trigger item. Ella, herself, doesn’t remember her childhood adoration of Rafe, she only knows the warnings she’s received about him as an adult. She initially fears and resents him, yet, soon enough craves his company and revels in his dominating character. Her rapid about face didn’t ring true to me.



I did have a hard time loving either Rafe or Ella. I would have liked to know more about what actually caused Rafe’s rages. I haven’t read the other books in the De Santis Brothers series, so perhaps they may shed more light on this troubled man. Though reading BIG, BAD BILLIONAIRE was a somewhat uncomfortable reading experience for me, I have to say that it was compelling. This couple’s chemistry was decidedly steamy, and I believe this story will appeal to readers who enjoy a darker, more damaged, and complicated hero.

Every time I read a Jackie Ashenden title I always get caught up in the way she weaves a tale. She writes with such passion and heart and seems to always leaves me wrecked with a full range of motion. She is one author that leaves you with all the feels as you read each of her titles. Bring on the next title Jackie Ashenden I am ready to devour it.

Well written and an enjoyable story. I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more by this author.

The Big, Bad Billionaire is the 4th in the de Santis saga and like the second (The Billionaire Beast), it features a seriously damaged hero in Rafael de Santis. When Rafe was young, he was sent away by his disinterested parents so that his grandfather could help him get control of his anger issues. Well, grandfather helped him, but in really abusive, twisted ways. While Rafe was away being abused by his grandfather, Rafe was plotting his father's downfall, plotting his revenge.

Ella was the daughter of Rafe's parents' oldest friends, and as such, Rafe's father was put in charge of Ella's trust when her parents died. Now that Rafe is in control of his father's empire, that means he's also in control of Ella's trust. He's been planning for years to claim Ella, who happened to be the only girl who ran TO him, rather than AWAY from him, when she was a little girl. But the trust and delight she showed in him was twisted by his and her parents, and Rafe's stunningly furious about them taking her away from him. So now that he's in control of her trust, he'll get her back, he'll be in control of her, even if he has to blackmail her to gain that control.

I wanted to like Rafe the way I ended up liking two of his brothers (Xavier and Nero), but I just could not. He was so messed up, such a beast, that I never felt he redeemed himself. His treatment of Ella (who I didn't end up liking, either) was reprehensible and if I were her, I'd never have taken him back. While I do feel for him, and know that it's not his fault he was such a damaged person, he never endeared himself to me the way Nero and Xavier did. He's more like Lorenzo in that he's a completely irredeemable jerk.

I've mostly liked this series, and modern day fairytales, whether twisted or not, are so in my wheelhouse, but I have to say that this one just did not do it for me. Rafe wasn't redeemable in my eyes and Ella was just a big mess, so I wasn't able to connect with either of them or their story. I'm sad this series is coming to an end, though - the de Santis brothers have been an interesting foursome, not always likable, but interesting for sure.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a sexy and dark take on the classic tale, Little Red Riding Hood. Rafe and Ella are linked together as their families were always close, and in their youth they were inseparable despite a large age difference. When Rafe was a teenager, 2 year old Ella followed him around and was not afraid of and loved the dark, brooding, and sometimes dangerous teenager. A fit of rage on Rafe's part causes him to be sent to live with his grandfather, and it is years later until the two meet again under circumstances that are all under this Alpha males control.

This book takes the Alpha male persona in a different direction, with Rafe having a sensitive and vulnerable side which breaks down all of Ella's defenses. While the two seem destined to be together, it does take a lot of coaxing from Rafe and an unfortunate misunderstanding before she realizes her true feelings. As with many books with a strong alpha male character, this can seem a bit on the unhealthy relationship level, however the author makes it work with explosive dynamics between the two outside and inside the bedroom. I also love the take on the fairy tale, which added a fun twist to the story. If you love a strong male and a bit of sass from the lead female character, this book is for you.

THE BIG, BAD BILLIONAIRE is the fourth book in Jackie Ashenden's Billionaire Fairy Tales series. Out of all the books in this series, I think that THE BIG, BAD BILLIONAIRE is closest to the classic fairy tale it's modeled on. The de Santis brothers are all men who have been broken in some way by their unscrupulous father. These stories tell how these men shed some of their wild animal traits, after experiencing love for the first time. In THE BIG, BAD BILLIONAIRE, Rafe DeSantis is pursuing Ella Hart for reasons both known and unknown to him. Ella is a talented dancer, and one of the few people to treat Rafe with any kindness.

There are some uncomfortable moments in THE BIG, BAD BILLIONAIRE because Rafe is in the position to control the purse strings, and Ella's access to her dream of studying abroad. Having this story told from alternating perspectives is crucial for the reader because, without getting that insight into his soul, Rafe can be seen as a villain. As with previous books in this Billionaire Fairy Tales series, sex, power, and love vie for prominence in the relationship between this hero and heroine. Although he has no truly evil intentions with respect to Ella, Rafe keeps his deeper feelings hidden from her throughout most of the book. Rafe and Ella scratch at each other until they get at raw emotion and the fallout can be difficult for them both to handle. Although Rafe starts out trying to maintain control while still getting what he wants, his love for Ella puts him through a much needed trial by fire.

THE BIG, BAD BILLIONAIRE is a tale about a corporate wolf who finds himself a slave to his little red riding hood, but comes out a better man because of it. The path to love and happiness is complex and exceedingly arduous at times for this couple, but the journey makes a fascinating story. I look forward to reading Jackie Ashenden's next tale of billionaires and the women who take them on.

I felt this story was an enjoyable read. This is the fourth story in the “Billionaire Fairy Tales” series. This is Rafe and Ella’s story. This story can be read as a standalone. I thought the”Big Bad Wolf” storyline was very cute and fitting for this couple. Even though Rafe came from a very rich family this does not mean that they don’t have their problems. Rafe had a temper at a very young age and the only person that could make him feel clam was a little girl, Ella. But then his family sent him away to live with his grandfather so he could help him learn to control his temper. It helped, but at what price?
I liked Ella as our heroine for this story, she has lost so much at a young age, I respect that she continued to be strong and follow her dreams. Ella is a very gifted dancer, her dream is to go to a famous dance school in Paris, but first she has to get her guardian to give her the money. What a surprise to her when she finds Rafe has taken over her guardianship from his father. I do need to warn those with triggers that this story talks and has scenes with self harm. I usually stay away from these types of stories because of a loved one with history of self harm and it’s a little too close to home, but the author used this topic to educate the readers.
If you like stories with gruff billionaires to a super sweet guy than this is a story for you. Enjoy, I know I did.

***I voluntarily reviewed this ARC for an honest review via NetGalley, this is my honest opinion and has not been influenced by the author, Publishers or NetGalley in anyway.*** Thank you!