Member Reviews
⭐️ 3.5 "Daredevil" Stars ⭐️
When I first read the blurb for Million Dollar Devil I was already sold on this story. Sadly for me, this novel didn’t entirely convinced me. I had difficulty for the first quarter of this book to be captivated by the storyline, but persevered in my reading. It paid off because I gradually connected more to the characters and enjoyed this book. Not my favorite from this author, but still pleasant.
Lizzy would do anything to prove to her dad she’s capable of becoming the next CEO of his company. When all her options to find the next face for Banks LTD’s upcoming menswear collection are lost, she turns to cocky daredevil James Rowan.
James is rough around the edge, shameless and so sexy! The complete opposite of what the company represents. Always ready for a dare, he accepts Lizzy’s million dollar offer and the transformation starts. I enjoyed his never-ending sexual innuendos toward the young woman. She’s not accustom to this kind of forwardness, but can’t help the attraction simmering between them. Lizzy’s always trying to please her father, but by doing that she’s not living her life and James shows her a new audacious side of her.
I enjoyed this couple flirty banter and the blossoming of their romantic relationship. This is quite slow, but I still enjoyed the pace. Million Dollar Devil wasn’t as attention-grabbing as I wanted, but I had good time reading it.
** ARC received from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **
I really enjoyed this book. The heat level was't as high as I expected from this author but that was ok with me. The sexual energy and banter between James/Jimmy and Lizzy was intriguing and I enjoyed the slow build up. I also enjoyed watching both these characters change especially as Jimmy transforms into James. Jimmy was not the bad boy character I originally thought he was. In fact he turned out to be quite sweet. I was expecting Lizzy to be a snobby princess since she was raised with money but wasn't that way at all and I found her real and genuine. I like the premise of this book and these characters really brought the story to life. I'm looking forward to more in this series. I would definitely recommend this book.
Million Dollar Devil by Katy Evans was just one of those stories where you either love it or you hate it.
The author and the blurb was what quickly drew me to the book but I was completely let down with the heroine. She's an heiress trying to please her father. No backbone. The things she said about the hero being "garbage" and a "sewer rat" among other names and multiple times throughout the novel was uncalled for. Even though she apologizes at the end, the damage was done.
However, there are many points for the hero. James was this sexified, raw, roguish, bearded man. Any dare presented to him, he's taking it all to care for his young brother. Yet, James seemed to be constantly objectified. Big N-O for me as a reader.
Overall, this story just did not do it for me. Yes, it was sexy and there was an electrifying connection between the main characters but it lacked humility in my opinion. Thus, making a novel that I was not particularly fond of.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Montlake Romance through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*
Cute
Humorous and original opposites attract story with lots of drama.
I voluntarily read an advanced copy.
Million Dollar Devil is a fantastic story, the writing is superb and the characters, although complete opposites, are perfect for each other.
From the first time Elizabeth and James meet the sexual tension flowing between them is off the charts. He stalks her with his catlike approach and she scampers away but is immediately drawn back to his masculine magnetism. Lizzy exposes James to a world he would have never had the opportunity to be a part of. He conforms to her world but it really isn’t who he is or wants to be.
They come from such opposite stations in life but the chemistry between them can not be denied, but more importantly their relationship allows them to finally figure out who they want to be.
The next two paragraphs are my favorites in the book and show the intensity of the passion that flows between these two characters.
“Every part of this man has touched my life. Every part of him I’ve touched has touched me back, and the parts that I had nothing to do with have outright shone on their own. Near blinded me. There is so much to him to admire.”
“When I am with him I want to shed that skin and just be me, the girl who tries to be perfect but never really buys into being all that. The girl who just wants to be happy, succeed in life, have her father’s love, joke around, and yes, even, fall deeply and madly in love with the guy who will make her feel happy. Compliment her perfectly.”
Stunts were Jimi Rowans life until he met her...Elizabeth...the Heiress and daughter of a fashion magnate Harold Banks. She made him offer he couldn't resist and on top of that a hope, that maybe he could get Lizzy's delicious body and soul for himself. What they didn't plan on was fall one for another. Except all that shine and glamour had its price. The lost of friends and Self. Was it even worthy to become someone else and forget about the person he once had been?
Read this amazing story about trust, hope love and so much more. The book is so very much Katy Evans, raw, emotional and the twist....le sigh... oh so brilliant. I loved every second.
A diamond in the rough, James has invaded Elizabeth’s life and turned everything she knows upside down.
Opposites may attract but these two are over the top. Attraction from the start, they each had what the other wanted. The chance for Elizabeth to win over her fathers approval and for James to create a better life for him and his brother. Three months and a million dollars. What could go wrong...
I find that Katy’s books are hit or miss. While I enjoy her writing style, I found Million Dollar Devil lacking the “it” factor. I wouldn’t say this story was a total miss for me as James saves the story with his gentle giant character. I enjoyed seeing his transformation into the “perfect man” while allowing Elizabeth a transformation of her own. While it was not a one sitting read, I did enjoy the end product.
3 stars
Million Dollar Devil by Katy Evans is book 1 in the Million Dollar series and can be read as a standalone. It tells the story of Lizzy who is trying to impress her father with a new campaign for their men’s clothing line.
She finds Jimmy, a dare devil in a bar and offers him the opportunity to clean up his image and use him for their next campaign.
The chemistry is off the charts, as their attraction grows during the process. The book was reminiscent of both Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady and Pretty Woman, although the roles were reversed.
Will Lizzy do anything to please her father, at the expense of her own happiness? Will James be compromised by the money offered to him? You will have to read this great story to find out the answer. I loved this book and hope that we will re-visit these characters in an upcoming book.
Love Katy’s writing. She is able to build such a great story so well. Strong character development and depth make it hard to put down!
When I first saw the blurb, I was like ”This I have to read”. It reminded me of the movies The Makeover (starring Julia Stiles – love it!!!) and another movie that was about a guy who is homeless (I think) and steal watches (??? and I can’t find it anywhere so if you know the title please tell me!!!). Anyway, in both cases, there was a complete makeover and the guy turned out hot. Of course.
The book wasn’t so bad but it wasn’t good either. Couple things that bothered me:
For one, how was Lizzy always thinking that she made him that way, she made him desirable, gorgeous and hot. She made him sophisticated. I get where that came from but it gets annoying if she thinks that he’s nothing without her. I mean, yeah, maybe he’s not great for your circle but he’s still a great person??
I also know that she changed a lot about him just so he could fit in her circle but I still kind of hated her when she was forcing him to smoke even though he refused to do that.
_________
I reach into the humidor, where I keep a stash of my father’s favourite cigars for those rare, once-every-
few-months evenings when he comes over for dinner. I offer the box to him.
He shakes his head. ”Quit smoking when I was eighteen.”
”To smoke is human; to smoke cigars is divine.” I take one out, open his jacket, and stuff one in the inside
pocket.
________
Like b*tch, if he doesn’t smoke, he doesn’t smoke. There are a lot of people who don’t, no need to force them just to fit in.
When I was reading this and other similar moments, where she talked about dad in the same line, it looked to me like she wanted to turn James to be exactly like her dad.
In one moment, even her friendship was weird. I think her friend despised James because he was a ”nobody” which was mentioned when that same friend found out James is not really a rich man but rather a common one.
I also wished that text messages would be in italics or in other way separated from the rest of the text because sometimes I couldn’t distinguish between what was a text message and what was just a normal line in a book.
3.5 stars.
4 YouTube Meets the Upper East Side Stars
I knew immediately when I started this book I was going to struggle with some of this story. However, I'm an avid fan of Ms. Evans's writing and I kept reading and am so happy I did. This story brings together two worlds that you'd never think would be in the same world! And talk about being complete and total opposites! Lizzy and James, aka Jimmy, couldn't be further apart than if they were literally on different sides of the world!
Lizzie is a girl that's trying to please Daddy and make their newest campaign the best one yet and when she can't find the man she's looking for, she "creates" him when she meets Jimmy in a true blue-collar bar where his "office" is as a YouTube daredevil. Their chemistry is apparent from the get-go but I so loved that their getting down and dirty so to speak was a slower burn.
As much as Jimmy is a daredevil, there's a side to him that gave me all the warm fuzzies. Especially when it comes to Charlie and everything he does for him. I loved how he will do anything to give Charlie everything he possibly can and when Lizzy finds out, as frustrated as she is with him, it truly shows him in a different light and she's more determined than ever to make him into this "man that no woman could resist."
Lizzie for her part is a woman that's trying to straddle two worlds.... the one her father wants her to live in and be and the one she's creating with James and how her feelings for him make her feel. He's definitely not the type of man she brings home to Daddy. The big question is, will she stand up for the man she's come to love?
There's some definite hurdles for these two and quite honestly I didn't find everything plausible especially with how much Jimmy is expected to change. He's the way is and has been his entire life and taking a blue-collar man to a man that speaks with no accent or affectation in such a short time is pretty much impossible. However, I was invested in this story and really wanted to see what happened at the end. It was worth the wait too because I swooned all over the place!
Overall, this wasn't my favorite book by Ms. Evans, it's a good read and I loved how both our H/h made changes throughout the book and ultimately became people that can have and find love in the worlds they live in.
While I’m a huge fan of Katy Evans, there were definitely some mixed reviews on this book, but I have to say I enjoyed it. There were some aspects and parts of the book that were a little confusing, but other than that the storyline was pretty spot on and didn’t have any unresolved questions or feelings by the end. Lizzy has spent her entire life trying to live up to the fact that she wasn’t born a boy to her father. Determined to take over the family business, she convinces him to let her take lead on the latest project. When her plan fails and she is drowning herself in her sorrows, she finds a diamond in the rough, Jimmy. With some convincing and lots of money, she gets Jimmy to sign on and transforms him into the sophisticated man needed for the job. But as the two work closely together, they end up developing feelings, but neither fit into the other’s world. Overall, it was a decent book, and I’d definitely read the next one in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
1.5 Stars. Reviewed by Sharon Thérèse
I love Evans’ writing, so it was a surprise that I couldn’t get into Million Dollar Devil. The plot is an original one; the reversal of roles well-thought-out. However, I wasn’t at all keen on the female protagonist. I would have liked to connect to her more and I know this shouldn’t influence a review, but she constantly rubbed me up the wrong way.
Lizzy’s father has little faith in her abilities to do the job given, causing issues which I found a tad unrealistic. And her stuck-up attitude seemed to be completely offset. Daddy’s rolling in it and she’d do just about anything to please him, so why she’s shirty towards her new employee when she needed him, just didn’t make sense. There’s no excuse for rudeness regardless of one’s social status and that for me was the beginning of the end.
To say Jimmy’s drop-dead gorgeous would be putting it mildly. A rough diamond too, signing the dotted line for a total makeover is the answer to his predicament. I really liked that he put his younger brother’s well-being before his and the banter between the siblings is fab. He’s also quite masterful at throwing sexy innuendos Lizzy’s way although her haughtiness kinda kills the humour behind them.
I’m not in a position to make more comments as I was unable to finish the book in its entirety. Some romances simply don’t grab us; nonetheless, this might be the one for you. Mountlake Romance provided the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
Outstanding! The build up. The chemistry. Gah! Katy hooked me from the beginning and kept me intrigued throughout the book.
Million Dollar Devil has humor, off the charts sexual tension and a fabulous story-line. I love the duel point of views and can’t say enough about the writing.
Can wealth make a person happier? Will being deceitful make a person stronger? Morales are questioned. Emotions run high. Will Lizzy accomplish what she needs to do or will her heart give her the strength to stand tall.
A standalone novel worthy of your attention!
Pretty boy to be a perfect man.
Be careful for what you wish for and note to self, make sure you can handle it.
For a woman who grew up in a world of men, without a smile from her father and not so many relationships, she knows how to pick them. She can’t handle what she doesn’t know... I mean, has the girl been out, ever?
Like father like daughter they seem to have a lack of what’s important and just see people by the cover. Good luck to impress them all.
The best suit, the better mask, the better lie.
I could let it go if the author invested as much as previous works. I was not impressed, but leave you with your thoughts if you want to read it.
It pains me to say that, but I'm just not able to give positive feedback for this book. I'm a huge fan of Katy Evans, but this one just didn't work for me. At all. Hopefully, her next book will be a better fit. Thank you for the opportunity.
Jimmie is a You Tube daredevil that earns a modest income from doing stint videos and takes care of Charlie. Lizzie works for her father’s suit company. She’s trying to prove to her father her value to the company. Now put on charge of finding the perfect model for the new line Lizzie finds herself in a bind when everyone turns her down. She is told about Jimmie and decides to make him the perfect man. Problem is he isn’t the poster boy for that image and needs a lot of work. Can she fool everyone including her father or fail miserably
Wow!
Just wow! A deliciously enticing story!!!
When Elizabeth banks sets out on finding the man to be the face for her family’s company, needless to say she certainly gets a real man’s man!!
Initially I wasn’t sure what to make of James, but he grew on me so very much!
He could charm the pants off a saint, oh me oh my! He was snarky, gruff, a little naughty when it counted and swoonworthy as well!
I devoured this book! I just wish I could meet the man that had lizzy in a muddle! Alas hes fictional but what a fictional man he is! Goodness me! I really loved his heart and caring nature especially where family is concerned! Don’t even get me started on the words that came out of his mouth!
I thought James brought out another side to Lizzy and I loved everything about this story! How their relationship progressed and dilemmas that were faced!
How does Lizzy get a caveman like man and turn him into a prince???!!
Sheer will, tenacity and a whole lot of help!
Read it for yourself or you are missing out! Add it to your tbr list today!
Million Dollar Devil by Katy Evans set my heart and body on fire with the gloriously passionate and explosively sensual story. The author did not hold back with her perfect punches of emotion. It was a straightforward and unapologetic pleasure fest with love, sex and life.
Katy Evans men are always a class apart for me. They own me from the very beginning. James aka Jimmy is probably the most rustic, dirty talking, down to earth hero by her yet he had the same charisma and enticing pull. A man with a wicked sense of humor, belief in living without regret and embracing life fully. Elizabeth Banks needs a perfect man to star in her father's company's next prestigious mens wear campaign to prove she is worth her father's approval. And Jimmy stumbles on her way. All she has to do is transform this rugged, almost "uncivilized" and gorgeous specimen of manhood to a refined version. The problem is Jimmy wants her and he is bluntly pursuing her. The bigger problem? She wants him too. But she doesn't know how to do that without jeopardizing her career and her heart.
I love Elizabeth's character so much. She is trying too hard to prove herself but she cannot see she is already perfect with her elegance, beauty ,intelligence, hard work and golden heart. Jimmy is making her feel everything and making her believe in herself. Their chemistry is off the charts hot but the emotional connection was even more beautiful. Two people from two opposite sides of the world understand each other perfectly with all the darkness, shadows, cracks and imperfections. Katy Evans threw me for a loop with Jimmy's transformation, both physical and mental. My heart was breaking for Elizabeth and I was beyond relieved when everything fall into place. The push and pull was making me crazy!
Sometimes I need a book that will take back me back to the core of a great romance. Million Dollar Devil by Katy Evans did the job perfectly. This story is essentially pure sexy romance with all the burning passion, swoonworthy moments, brilliant characters and heartrending storyline.
Received ARC for Honest Review
Her brain may have had a plan, but her heart just stepped in it big time. Million Dollar Devil keeps it tempting while drawing attention to some harshly, realistic truths. Evans lets her pen run free on issues such as sexism and social prejudice. Lizzy and James have a great deal to learn from each other and these fictional characters, could teach the real world a few things as well. Sexy, sassy and surprisingly, relevant when it comes to social issues.