Off Limits is a well written and addictive workplace romance. Clare Connelly does a nice job with plotting and characters. There is a believable relationship trajectory, a fascinating, competent heroine and a complex hero. How nice to see the Dare line added to the genre. It's about time there are more modernized tropes. Also, the HFN ending rather than a hastily scrambled HEA seems very much in keeping with today's world. I am definitely looking forward to more by Connelly and the other titles in the Dare line!

Off Limits: New for 2018! A hot boss romance story that takes love to the limit. Perfect for fans of Darker! (Mills & Boon Dare) by Clare Connelly .... Thanks to #NetGalley for letting me preview this book. Jack is a self made Billionaire who lost his wife to cancer... he is handsome..and has no trouble filling his nights with one night stands....Gemma is his in house right hand... for two years she has lusted for him ..but refuses to be one of his women...they get together and it is a dark romance with lots of sex...she loves him...he can't get over his loss... there are laughs..lots of sex...some tears and heartbreak ... all on the way finally to a HEA.

Unfortunately I'm DNF-ing this book because I couldn't get into it even after a few attempts. The writing and the characters are just not for me. I was unable to get past the first chapter.

harlequin's new imprint, dare, launched this year and off limits happens to be one of the new offerings. like the now-defunct blaze line, it is steamier than standard harlequin romances, but the vibe is different. this might be due to the alternating first-person povs, which isn't the norm for most harlequin categories. i haven't read other books in this particular line, so i can't say if it's happening imprint-wide, but it felt worth noting that it does feel different from blaze, which was an imprint i was sad to see close up shop. because it was the imprint i read the most of.

anyway, so jack is a widower who has basically sworn off love. and gemma is his in-house counselor who is essentially his right-hand woman. and she's half in love with him. but she knows what a bad idea it is to get mixed up with him. so she keeps him at arm's length. and it's been years of this.

and then they're at a party and she accidentally makes him jealous and everything explodes all over the place. the crazy sexual tension. the feelings that both of them have kept locked up for years. the fact that this is the worst idea in the world. because jack doesn't want anything long-term and yet gemma isn't someone he can just sleep with and forget.

he's going to break her heart. because he's broken and damaged. but she's also broken and damaged a little bit. and their jagged edges fit in a way that neither of them thought possible. and for all the crazy hot sex there was also some really gutting emotional depth. and i love that. angst is totally my jam. and jack and gemma have it in spades along with wicked hot chemistry.

**off limits will publish on february 1, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/harlequin (dare) in exchange for my honest review.

Off Limits was definitely hot and steamy which I always appreciate, but I was disappointed in the lack of true plot of character development. I just didn't understand why Gemma and Jack were attracted to each other besides the fact that they both thought each other was hot. I would recommend off limits to someone who is just looking for a sexytimes book.

Off Limits is the story of Gemma who is attracted to her boss and knowing it is wrong. Jack who lost his wife to cancer turns to women to sooth the mourning and suffering. When Jack turns his attention to Gemma, he is determined to win Gemma. What results is a great book with lots of steamy scenes. While the story makes you wonder at times if Jack will ever find the love that Gemma has to offer or if she will leave him before he does, the author keeps you enthralled as you read each page. Clare Connelly has written a book that kept my attention with each page and the sexy scenes will only warm you up on a cold winter's day.
A perfect read and can't wait to read more of Clare Connelly's books!

While this novel was definitely sexy, I felt it missed a bit of a lead up. I wanted more information. Having said that, I will absolutely read all other books from this author.

This was really too! Hot and steamy! I loved the characters and the story. It was so hot! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I've read pretty much every book by author Clare Connelly (53 and counting) and haven't been disappointed. Who doesn't like hot alpha males and steamy sex. The chemistry between the characters if off charts hot.

I bet that five stars is a surprise. But I have a set of rules about reviewing romance and I have to stick to them. This book made me a little weepy at one point. You do that, hardened category romance reader that I am, and you get that extra star. So long as you don't break any of the other rules. Fair warning.

This is a boss and PA romance. Technically. Apparently there is a prequel on the Harlequin site about how Gemma and Jack first meet when she starts working for him. He is dealing with his grief for the recent loss of his wife by burying himself in booze and women. I have chosen not to read that prequel because that is why I stopped reading boss/PA/secretary romances years ago.

So when I started this book (especially after my experience with another of the Dare books) I was very nervous. Especially as it's written in first person which is most definitely not a POV I enjoy. It often seems forced to me, lacking the smoothness of third.

Anyway, we start this book at a point of change. The attraction between Jack and Gemma has been simmering, just below the boil, for a long while. For Jack, she is off limits because he knows from the first that Gemma wouldn't be as easily shagged and disposed of as the other women who parade through his bedroom before being consigned to oblivion. For Gemma, she knows that being treated as just another of Jack's "screw to forget" disposable women would break her.

So they have spent two years, keeping an invisible barrier while, with great proficiency, he screws (it ain't love and is barely sex) nameless women, and while Gemma becomes an indispensable part of Jack's business.

Then Jack steps over the line, and the force of it takes Gemma with him. Be prepared for a lot of sex. A. Lot. Of. Sex.

But it isn't all just about the sex. Gemma isn't stupid and she uses Jack's craving for her to delve deeper, into places he doesn't want to go. And Jack does the same, his need for Gemma's body awakening a need to know more about his former icicle of a PA.

Of course it isn't all sex and skittles. Jack has demons to fight and Gemma has her own insecurities. It is bound to go pear shaped.

Overall this was a good read. It took me a while to get into the 1st person and there seems to be a much bigger percentage of Gemma's POV because I did look for input from Jack a few times and it wasn't there. Once I got into the rhythm, the POV didn't jar me too much. I still don't feel comfortable with the disrespectful way he treated his shagfest women, but I was able to understand why, even if I still don't approve.

The ending was satisfying and as mentioned, it got to my emotions.

I received this ARC from Netgalley for an independent review.

Off Limits is my first Harlequin Dare read, and I am here to tell you, this line of books that I will be keeping an eye out for.

The story center around a billionaire business man and gorgeous assistant. Now, Jack is still in the grieving process over the death of his wife. It was clear ephe truly loved and was devastated by her death, so I did have to look past his broody and sometimes snippy personality. Now so much the constant promiscuity, but I guess this was the way of covering up the pain. I did feel for him, and wanted more for him. He seemed to be a really nice guy underneath the glamour.

Gemma has been his assistant for a while, and had to endure the endless line of women in and out of her extremely hot boss. Even though she knows what he like, it doesnt stop her from being so attracted to him. This is a line she’s told herself she would not cross and for that I did admire her for. She did hold out for quite a while too.

The story of the billionaire falling for the meek assistant might sound a little cliched, but it was still so easy to fall for them both and get swept up in their passionate journey together. Jack and Gemma’s relationship was a constant push and pull, and did have its turbulent moments. But the sex was both hot and steamy! I especially enjoyed the darker tone this had to it too. The ending was a satisfying one for me as well, even with the the roller coaster ride wuth these too.

With all the witty banter these two had with each other to the scorching romance, this was definitely a great read. And I for one, will be on hunt for more from this author!

Quick and easy sexy read. I just didn't like the story told from the characters views, I much prefer the third person telling.
I received this copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review that is all my own.

Jack is one hot complicated mess of a man. Gemma is one strong sensitive woman. They make for one hell of a strong complicated couple. They have an amazingly strong connection. They both have issues that they need to deal with. Could not wait to see where this story would go. First book I’ve read from this author will read more.

This is the first of the new Harlequin/Mills & Boon Dare line that I have read, and it is hot, steamy hot, MS Connelly has written a story that could set the pages on fire. Her hero who has some real issues from his past and his right hand employee Gemma Picton know that they should both be off limits to each other but cannot ignore the heat that ignites between them for too long and then when that match gets struck WOW.

Gemma is so attached to her gorgeous billionaire boss but is strong enough to control it for a couple of years but he has been pushing her now for too long but she does not want to be one of those females that he uses he sleeps with them and walks away, she knows in his eyes he has his reasons but can she get through to him can she mend his heart.

Jack Grant has a broken heart and uses woman these days for sex and lots of it anyway anytime but he is so drawn to his work counsel Gemma, she is strong feisty and often comes across icy and she puts up with so much from him but he cannot deny this burning fire between them any longer and when they join they detonate together.

This one has a lot of hot sex in it but the banter between Jack and Gemma is really good it had me smiling as did Gemma’s Grandmother, they are both very smart people and they do know what they want even if Jack has a harder time than Gemma finally realizing that he should let go of the past and look to the future with Gemma these two were made for each other even though they come from totally different backgrounds. If you like your romance with a lot of steam and banter then this is the story for you, I loved the HEA at the end and the epilogue, and thank you MS Connelly I will just get my fan now 

Off Limits is an office romance between boss and secretary (technically she's actually his "counsel") filled with humor, banter, heart and tasteful, steamy scenes. What sets this one apart from other office romances was that, while the counsel (the heroine in this story) works under the boss, their dynamic seemed more equal. He didn't treat her like a lackey or she was under (no pun intended) him. She helped keep him in check, in work and in his natural flirtations. They complimented each other, both in the office, in bed and out of those areas.

OFF LIMITS - Clare Connelly

SEX, SEX, and MORE SEX! - 3 stars

Plot - 3 stars - Gemma is a top lawyer who acts as in-house attorney for billionaire playboy Jack. Even though she's worked with him for 2 years, their chemistry is suddenly off the charts. When they decide to act on it, their working relationship becomes somewhat strained as she starts to feel more than he apparently does. His struggles to deal with his wife's death add to the complexity of their relationship.

Writing - 3 stars - I was caught up in the story right away. Well, I guess that's because it jumped right into the erotic part right away, then it never really went away. Although there was generally a basic plot, it was lost in the small bits between sexual encounters. There's just not enough back story to explain why their relationship went from two attractive people working together to not being able to keep their hands or their minds off each other. It jumped in so quickly that I was never able to catch up and spent my time wondering what had happened to change things so drastically.

Characters - 3 stars - The characters are attractive and fairly interesting, despite the fact that their main focus seemed to be on how much sex they could fit into one story. Gemma is the product of a high society family, but she doesn't fit in and goes to college, ending up with her high-paying job as attorney and right-hand-man to Jack. He, on the other hand, is fairly one-dimensional. Well, maybe two-dimensional. He likes and wants sex--all the time! And that's because he's trying to drown out his feelings about his wife's death. He feels guilty about her and tries to replace her with various one-night stands. The chemistry between Gemma and Jack is combustible, but it came out of the blue, and I wasn't sure what had sparked it. After two years, it seemed odd that they would suddenly be unable to keep their hands off each other. Although an attempt was made to explain, it didn't really come off.

Title - 2.5 stars - Well, it's clear that Gemma and Jack expect that they should be off limits to each other because of their successful working relationship, but it's also clear that they are completely ignoring it. So the title is pretty much over before the book even begins.

Cover - 3 stars - OK cover, nothing special to draw the eye.

Overview - 3 stars - This book was all sex, all the time. If that's what you're looking for, then this book is definitely a winner. The sex scenes are hot and very erotic. The plot is lost, however, and it's disappointing that it's not explored more thoroughly because it might have added a lot. I liked Gemma, although it would have been nice to know a little more about her personal life in high society and why she didn't feel that she fit in to that lifestyle and why she made the career choice she did. Jack, on the other hand, doesn't have much of a role except for his place as current sex king and former husband of Lucy. We don't explore anything about him, and it would have been nice to get to know him as more than just a pretty face and body. All in all, the book was fine, fast-moving and erotic, but lacking in dimension and depth.

A good quick read that had my glued until the last page.

Off Limits, penned by Clare Connelly and written in the 1st person narrative was not my cup of tea. Being that this was told in a 1st person narrative, I would have marked this one as a “DNF”. But, just recently I found an author, Melody Johnson, who turned me on to this type of storytelling, did a wonderful job of creating a world with enjoyable characters. But, Off Limits shows that I have far to go to say I enjoy these types of stories.

I try not to give too many one star reviews. There has to be a saving grace to the story that is being told. However, even though I tried, I can't seriously find anything worth saving about Off Limits.

There are some people that talk in a monotone voice and Off Limits just proves that characters can do the same. It was very hard to understand where this story was going outside the obvious. The two main characters lack any personality or depth, this held true throughout the entire story. To say I didn’t like this story would be an understatement.

I can’t say I would recommend this book to anyone.

The execute assistant has the hots for her billionaire boss, who on the one hand can’t forget his dead wife and the other has nothing but one-night stands.
A quarter of the way through and I was completely bored. Various cycles of “Will-they-won’t-they” are interspersed with “yes-they-will,” leading to regrets and starting the cycle again. Hardly anything else takes place or matters. With all that introspection, it was easy to get distracted. One of the bright spots was the discussion on flowers, which was surprisingly deep and funny, one of those moments that is in no way necessary to the story but adds to the enjoyment. That, however, was more of an exception.
It’s amazing to me how these books, which are basically about the start of a relationship, can last for so many pages. I liked some of it, mostly because I liked her. As usual, I didn’t like the dominating ass she’s into. Just felt like it went on for too long.

Usually, I am all for the hot, heavy tortured billionaire stories. But, for some reason, Off Limits rubbed me the wrong way. I couldn’t stand the female main character. The male main character had major issues that shouldn’t have been resolved within one book.

Off Limit’s plotline was very simple. Gemma works for Jack as his personal assistant. She is his right-hand woman and micromanages his schedule. Being attracted to your boss is a big no-no and Gemma tries to keep her attraction to Jack from showing. Giving in to her attraction could cost her job and that is something that she doesn’t want. One night, they both give into their mutual attraction. That leads to a relationship that is all about sex. Until Gemma starts developing feelings for Jack. Feelings that she doesn’t want and can’t afford to have.

Gemma drove me nuts while reading Off Limits. She knew what she was getting into when she started having sex with Jack. She knew that he has some major issues but she was so jealous when he looked at another woman. I was eating Cheese-Its while reading and I started a mini bet with myself. Every time Gemma stormed off in a jealous rage I gave myself two Cheese-Its. Let’s say that I lost my bet with myself very early in the book.

Jack had some major issues and he knew it. He made it very clear to Gemma when they started sleeping together that this was going to be nothing but sex. I liked that he was upfront with her. I felt bad that he had to deal with her type of crazy, though. Put it this way, if she was my employee and acted that way towards me…..she would have been fired. Of course, he did give off conflicting signals to her…which didn’t help. But still.

As much as I found Gemma distasteful and annoying, I did think that the sex scenes between her and Jack were hot. There was heat and Gemma was very sexually adventurous.

I thought that the relationship that Gemma had with her grandmother was very cute. They had such a cute bond. I loved that her grandmother was very her own person and did things her way. I did think that Gemma’s relationship with her parents was very strained. I do think that Gemma based her relationships and was attracted to men who were like her standoffish father. Yes, I am psychoanalyzing a fictional character…lol.

The end of the book was your typical romance novel ending. All sunshine and rainbows with hearts thrown around. All plotlines were resolved in such a way that I, as a reader, was satisfied.

This is a book that should be for Adults only. There are some very graphic and descriptive sex scenes. So yes, this book wouldn’t be good for a younger kid.

While I didn’t care for Off Limits, I would recommend it if someone likes the author’s books. I definitely wouldn’t be rereading it but I am open to reading other books that the author has written.

I would like to thank Harlequin, Harlequin Dare, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Off Limits

All opinions stated in this review of Off Limits are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**