Second best to the memory of a ghost. The spare that was never meant to be the heir and that was just fine with Grayson Chandler. He was a successful tech giant but there was something missing in his life. It took a city wide blackout to shed some light on just what or who he needed to bring both a dose of reality and off the charts chemistry to his life.

Nadia’s life in Chicago consisted of supporting her brother, avoiding becoming her mother and being on call to her boss who had no problem with sending her on crazy errands afterhours. Her life would forever be changed by a chance encounter with a gorgeous man who wouldn’t remember her tomorrow. Funny thing about chance, it can go either way.

Blame it on the Billionaire is book 3 in the Blackout Billionaires series. Grayson and Nadia don’t run in the same circles and that fact is brought out several times in the book. The fact that Nadia isn’t like the women who are frequently thrust at Grayson, women who socially acceptable to his parents, is part of her appeal. Her self confidence and sassy kissable mouth are high on the list as well.

Nadia and Gray had instant chemistry but I thought it was interesting that he was so determined to try and not let it get beyond the physical. The physical was totally hot and it was fun to watch them fight to not let it get out of control. It got out of control several times, much to my pleasure and their chagrin.

Ms. Simone paints Nadia’s story, her background and reason for not trusting easy, in very clear and descriptive terms. I could picture the young girl that she was, proud and determined to fight for her brother and herself. She’s a character that was easy cheer for but I wasn’t sure how Gray could overcome her past to make her part of his future. An uphill battle for sure.

The story has a happy ending and wraps up the series nicely. I liked how Ms. Simone worked out the issues. It felt legit, not just thrown together. Readers who love the world of big money and hot men will love Nadia and Gray’s story.

4.25 Stars / 3 Steam Fans

Greyson is the reluctant heir to the family business, and during a blackout, he spends one night with Nadia. Nadia is on her day off but gets called by her supervisor to bring him a clean shirt. Nadia gets caught in the blackout with Greyson, the head of her company, and the boss she's lusting. When Greyson finds out that he is more connected to Nadia than just the one night they shared, he offers her a deal that she cannot pass up. I loved that Nadia and Greyson had mutual secrets and responsibilities. I liked the strength that Nadia portrayed throughout the story, as well as her vulnerability.

I look forward to reading the previous books in this series of standalone novels.

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I really enjoyed this one! This was my first Naima Simone and I liked her writing a lot. I don’t usually go for billionaire tropes, but this one totally worked for me. I do wish the actual “blackout” part had been longer since I love forced proximity! But I really liked the fake fiancés aspect and that the heroine was guardian of her younger brother. This is from a series and reading it made me want to go read the first two books. Four stars!

Blame It on the Billionaire by Naima Simone is a quick and steam fake engagement and office romance you can get lost in during an afternoon. Nadia Jordan is all heart. She is determined but what she does, she does for those she loves. Grayson Chandler is strong and independent, now if only his family could let him be. When Grayson and Nadia find themselves together during a blackout, they cannot deny their chemistry. But what happens after? Suddenly Grayson is in need of a fake fiancé and Nadia needs ot help her brother. They can get through this little white lie, right?

But as they spend together, it becomes harder to deny their connection. But as they face obstacle after obstacle, things may not look for them. A bit angsty, full of the feels and steamy chemistry.

Happy reading!

I am a huge Naima Simone fan. With her stories, she has the ability to transport you to places you can only dream of, with characters who have a realness to them. Blame it on the Billionaire is the third and final book in the Blackout Billionaire series. The premise of the series is that three billionaires unexpectantly find the love of their lives during a citywide blackout while being locked in a heavily secured mansion. Having read all three books, I can say that all three heroes are completely different. However, they all have their immense wealth, family loyalty, and battered souls in common. The heroines are all sassy and determined. None of the six are expecting to meet anyone and fall in love.

While I haven't read all of Naima’s books, I find that Grayson Chandler is the most beast-like hero I've read from her. Grayson is the 30-year-old president of KayCee Corp. A company he and Gideon Knight (Black Tie Billionaire) founded together. Grayson is a man who has had to build a protective shield around himself, but inside he's a little boy who's hurting. Grayson is the third child of one of Chicago's wealthiest families. He's a “spare” so to speak. Having heterochromia (multi-colored eyes) he wasn't viewed as handsome or worthy by his parents or those around him. The Chandlers chose to lavish all of their praise and attention on their firstborn child, Jason, whom they planned to one day run Chandler International. When Jason suddenly dies, Grayson's parents look to him to take over the company, not caring that he is building his own legacy with KayCee Corp. They even feel that it is a foregone conclusion that Grayson will marry his ex-fiancee and merge two mega conglomerates together. After all, going back generations, a Chandler has always been CEO of the family company. And marriage isn’t about love, but about an understanding and what can be gained from each other.

Nadia Jordan is a strong heroine. I love that she knows who she is and isn't ashamed of where she's from or what she’s done to survive. She has a lot of pride and determination. As Grayson says, she's a true survivor. In her quest to give her younger brother Ezra a better life, she packed up and moved them from their small rural hometown in Georgia to Chicago. For a year, she has worked as an executive assistant to the VP of operations at KayCee Corp. On the night of the blackout, she finds herself using her personal time to bring her boss an extra dress shirt. Before the lights go out, Nadia bumps into Grayson. While she knows who he is, Grayson has no idea who Nadia is or that she works for his company. When the lights go out, the two find comfort in each other. Nadia knows it's wrong, but she wants to do something just for herself. She's thinking that come Monday morning she will continue to avoid the man she has secretly been crushing on for a year. Too bad that's not what happens. Grayson finds himself in his mother's crosshairs and tells her that Nadia is his girlfriend. Now he has to convince Nadia to go along with him. To his surprise, she refuses the quarter of a million dollars he offers her to pretend to be his fiancee. However, when Ezra is accepted into an Ivy League school that they can't afford, she changes her mind.

What starts out as a business arrangement turns into more when Grayson and Nadia realize they can't keep their hands off each other. Their physical attraction isn't the only thing that grows between them. The two start to really care about each other, sharing their hopes and dreams. Nadia has a titanium backbone and the strength of a lioness, but she gets pushed to her limits when dealing with Grayson's parents and his ex. Speaking of which, Naima is so freaking good at writing characters you HATE and wish would get swallowed up by the Earth's core.

When the chips are down and Grayson realizes he can’t live without Nadia, he finally makes the tough decisions we as readers wish he would have made earlier on. Grayson and Nadia truly had to fight themselves, their pasts, and other people to be able to be free to love themselves and each other. Their love affair was deep, passionate, and affirming. They truly are what each other needed in a partner.

It should be noted that while Blame it on the Billionaire is the third book in the Blackout Billionaire series, the previous characters don’t have significant page time. You do get a little update on what’s happened with their lives. Thus, making Blame it on the Billionaire a truly standalone read.

: 3.75 stars--BLAME IT ON THE BILLIONAIRE is the third instalment in Naima Simone’s contemporary, adult BLACKOUT BILLIONAIRES erotic, romance series. This is billionaire businessman Grayson Chandler, and executive assistant Nadia Jordan’s story line. BLAME IT ON THE BILLIONAIRE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Grayson and Nadia) BLAME IT ON THE BILLIONAIRE follows the fake fiancé relationship between billionaire businessman Grayson Chandler, and executive assistant Nadia Jordan. A recent black-tie affair found Nadia Jordan called into duty when her boss at KayCee Corporation demanded she bring him a change of clothes but Nadia never expected to run into the man who has starred in all of her fantasies, the man with whom Nadia would fall in love. A city-wide blackout found Nadia in the arms of Grayson Chandler, but a quick exit meant Grayson had no idea about the woman with whom he spent a one-night stand. Discovering Nadia worked for his company, KayCee Corporation, Grayson struggles with Nadia’s true intent the evening before. What ensues is the quick building but fake relationship between Nadia and Grayson, and the potential fall-out as the reality of their opposing worlds is about to bite them in the a$$.

Grayson Chandler is tired of his mother’s match making plans, and of his father’s desperate attempts to get him to join the family business. With the death of his older brother Jason, Grayson found himself avoiding the family’s guilt-ridden stranglehold as their only, remaining son. Desperate times called for desperate measures, and Grayson made Nadia an offer, she couldn’t refuse. Nadia has been a single parent to her younger brother most of his life, and Grayson’s offer of a fake relationship came with the financial promise that would help Nadia’s brother in his post-secondary education but all does not go according to plan when the Chandler family tries desperately to destroy the growing love between our leading couple.

The relationship between Nadia and Grayson begins as an accidental meeting but Grayson has no idea Nadia works for KayCee Corporation. Desperate to keep the wolves away, Grayson offers Nadia money in exchange to play the role of his loving fiancé. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The colorful secondary and supporting characters including Nadia’s brother Ezra; Grayson’s sister Melanie, and their parents Cherise and Daryl; as well as the cameo appearance of Gideon Knight, and Darius King.

BLAME IT ON THE BILLIONAIRE is a story of family, friendships, secrets and lies. The fast paced premise is entertaining; the characters are energetic; the romance is seductive and captivating.



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Delectable passion! With book three in her Blackout Billionaires series, Naima Simone continues to delight us with swoon worthy characters in BLAME IT ON THE BILLIONAIRE.

Nadia is a kind-hearted person who put a good bit of her life on hold to raise her little brother. She's had a crush on her boss Grayson, but never thought she had a chance ... until a blackout unleashes passion she's never experienced before.

Grayson is a shrewd businessman who has felt less-than most of his life, but he's not willing to let his mother meddle in his life for one minute more. If he has to coerce Nadia into being his fake fiance for awhile, so be it!

I recommend this book and this entire series to anyone who enjoys a fast paced story filled with passion, lots of heart and happily ever afters.

I’m never disappointed by a Harlequinn book. They are just simple, short, easy reading and always an HEA. What more could a girl ask for. In this one we see a hardworking-sacrificing woman hook up with Prince Charming. Well, something like that. He starts out as a prince, and then looses a little luster along the way. By the end though, he gets the shine back and she truly appreciates the changes.

It’s not quite Cinderella, but it is very close. Nadia is caring for her brother because their parents aren’t or couldn’t take the time to care for them. She is very loyal, even possibly, to a fault. Although it comes in handy when she hooks up with Grayson and ends up in situations she isn’t comfortable in. Grayson and Nadia move in very different circles and although he thinks he can dress her up and she will fit in, in reality she struggles to such a degree she realizes it can’t work between them and takes a step back. Grayson on the other hand is just trying to figure out if lust can be converted to love. Well, in romance novels the answer to that is, yes it can!!

I’m sure you are asking where the Blackout part comes into play in this one. Well, it is early on and is almost a stranger hook-up during a blackout. Later is when Grayson realizes she knew him all along. But in her defense she had a huge crush on him, but knew it would never workout. So she took the not so blind leap.

I definitely recommend this one and I’m sure the others in this series are just as good. Don’t expect any huge leaps from a typical romance, but if you just need a little hotness and an HEA this one does a very fine job.

Ms Simone is a new author to me and I definitely enjoyed the family drama and improbable romance.
Their paths should never have crossed even though she worked for his company. However on a fateful night when she's going beyond the call of duty to deliver something to her boss the lights go out, Nadia runs into billionaire Grayson Chandler.
As it turns out she knows who he is, she works for his company after all but clearly he doesn't but they spend an unforgettable night. Imagine his surprise the morning after when she's entering his building and heading for the elevator. Cornered by his matchmaking mother he grabs her hand and introduces her as his fiancé to his mother and the piranha gunning for his name and fortune.
Could two people come from more different walks of life? He offers her a fortune to play the role of his fiancée which she accepts when she sees the benefits of his money for her brother. Of course the pretense becomes reality before long though Grayson has to definitely work for it.
The story has strong quirky characters between Grayson's parents, his ex-fiancée and of course Nadia and her brother.

It had been awhile since I had read this author with once I started this one I realized how much I had missed the style of her writing. She can take her characters and use them to lure you into their world with their story right from the beginning. I hardly read straight contemporary anymore but this one caught my eye. It will start out hot with something else to come out of it. It will be the type you are waiting to see where the man will go and more and more side with the female. Nadia has us with wanting Grayson to follow through. The drama escalates with us being pulled into it further and further. I know also what I would like to do to a couple of the characters too. How this author wraps this up is one that will have me coming back again.

I really enjoyed BLAME IT ON THE BILLIONAIRE by Naima Simone. It is a meaningful read, with amazing characters that touched my heart, and loathsome characters that evoked tremendous dislike. This is the the third and final book from the BLACKOUT BILLIONAIRES series, and it can be read as a standalone.

Nadia Jordan had to grow up fast, because her trampy mother did not care whether she or her younger brother lived or died. Nadia knew she had to keep her brother safe, so they relocated to Chicago and started a new life. Nadia gave up her dreams to take care of her always appreciative genius of a brother.

One night the power goes out at Nadia’s workplace, and she gets stuck alone with Grayson Chandler, the company’s gorgeous CEO and founder. They share an immediate and lustful attraction, which evolves into the best sex of their lives. Days pass and they both can’t forget their one steamy encounter.

Although Grayson’s scheming parents foolishly believe he will be the next CEO of the Chandler conglomerate, Grayson has created his own successes. Spending the blackout with Nadia causes him to feel once again, and as a result, he asks her to be his fake fiancee in order to stop his parents from taking over his future. In exchange, the tuition to Yale for Nadia’s brother is secured. They agree not to fall in love. However, nothing ever goes according to plan.

This is a great story, although the steamy scenes lacked a bit of romantic chemistry. With the exception of Nadia’s brother, the secondary characters were delightfully manipulative and added a lot of interest to the plot. The respective baggage that both Nadia and Chandler have to deal with is intense at times. Overall, a solid “engagement of convenience” romance with terrific character development.

Complimentary copy provided by Romance Junkies, romancejunkies.com.

MY THOUGHTS

Ok, you will notice a lot more of these Harlequin books on my blog. I am really gone back to loving cheesy romance books 😀.

Anyway, I liked this book. it is very well written and wasn't rushed. I loved the story and the characters.

If you are looking for a quick and romantic read then I do recommend this one.

I am giving this 5 out of 5 stars.

This entire series was amazing, but I think Grayson and Nadia were my favorite.

Ms. Simone has a knack for writing broken, broody heroes and the strong, feisty heroines who break through all their walls!

I adored Nadia and how tough she was, even standing up to Grayson's ex and his mother!

Oh yes and yes and yes!! Billionaire Romance is my catnip and this story was hands down everything I love about the trope. Add some one-night sexual heat with a plus size heroine and you have the ingredients for the perfect romantic dish.
Say hello to Grayson Chandler, uber rich by birth and the latest tech titan who struggles with his family as the spare heir to the Chandler dynasty. Grayson finds a connection with sexy, caring Nadia Jordan during a blackout. Its obvious Grayson’s character is the perfect wounded hero with a touch of tenderness.
Nadia Jordan, a plus-size heroine (size 16), is proof your past struggles do not determine and shape your future. She is a free spirit who cares deeply for her brother and his wellbeing even at the expense of her own. Together, the two of them are as opposites as they are irresistible together.
Blame It on The Billionaire is the third book in the Blackout Billionaire Series from Naima Simone, the others of which – Black Tie Billionaire & The Billionaire’s Bargain. This is however a standalone title, and it’s not necessary to have read the previous books in order to fully enjoy this romance story.
Gideon Knight, the hero of Black-Tie Billionaire, is the business partner of Grayson Chandler. You will enjoy reading about the Nadia’s Cinderella love story and you will love revisiting old friends from the previous book.
The writing is beautiful, romantic and steamy hot. In closing, Blame It on The Billionaire is a spark fanned into a flame!

Intense, super sexy, and skillfully-written, this Cinderella/Pretty Woman fake relationship workplace romance is a fantastic read. Beautiful and sympathetic main characters in American Prince Grayson and financially-strapped Nadia. A heart-rending storyline of family pressure and knocks to self-belief. Molten hot sexytimes. Ultra satisfying ending.

It needed an infusion of humor to cut through all the intensity and a bit more dimension to the villainess. Also missing for most of the book is the element of friendship. Nadia had no one, which made me really sad.

3.5

This was a surprisingly good time. I wasn’t sure I’d love the workplace romance elements, but it was handled better than most. Nadia doesn’t work directly for Grayson and instead just works at the same office.

The blackout plot was really amusing and unique. It’s well paced as it seems most harlequins are. I had a fun time reading it and really Naima can write some amazing sex scenes so for that along it’s almost a 4 star read.

This is a wonderful story. I fell for Nadia Jordan right alongside start-up billionaire Grayson Chandler. Nadia is smart, strong and principled. I love that she fell for the man and could have done without the old money culture he came from. I really loved the way she dealt with those who would belittle her. A terrific Cinderella tale.

I don't know why I haven't read Naima Simone before now. I've certainly heard about her, had friends recommend her books, meant to pick one up. I guess it's always been one of those too-many-books-too-little-time situations. But then, Harlequin sent me an email, asking if I'd like to read and review Blame It on the Billionaire. It's like the universe was telling me I'd waited long enough and needed to read this author. Now. You know what? The universe was right. Simone's well-developed characters, fast-paced plot, steamy chemistry, and emotional depth kept me immersed in the story and cheering for this unlikely couple from beginning to end.

I couldn't get enough of Nadia. While all the characters, both primary and secondary, are vividly rendered and well-developed, and I loved Nadia and Grayson as a couple, Nadia is the highlight of this book for me. Strong, nurturing, confident, and protective of those she loves, she's put her dreams aside to raise her younger brother, working hard to move them away from their toxic southern hometown and ensure his dreams are fulfilled. She's someone I'd want in my corner, as Gray slowly comes to realize. I love how she defends him against those who should have his best interests at heart, but don't. She may have been the poor, neglected child of a woman of ill repute but the woman she's grown into can hold her own with a billionaire businessman and the elite Chicago society into which he was born. Did I mention how much I loved this character?

It's been a while since I read a Harlequin Desire and Naima Simone's Blame It on the Billionaire was the perfect opportunity for me to dip my reading toes back into their delicious, steamy goodness. This may have been my first Simone novel but I guarantee it won't be my last. In fact, many of her titles are currently on sale for $2.99 and $3.99 in e-book format. Excuse me while I venture off to download Simone titles to my reader's heart's content.

One more thing. While this is the third book of a series, it stands well on its own.

*Advance copy received from publisher via NetGalley

4.5 Stars

This is a book in the Harlequin Desire line by Harlequin Books.

Nadia and Grayson “call me Gray” met by happenstance during a power outage. He was attending a gala of sorts and she was bringing her boss’s dress shirt to him since he had soiled it during the gala in some way. During the blackout the couple have one night of guilt-free pleasure until Gray learns that Nadia works for his company.

Days later Gray can’t get Nadia out of his head and he comes up with a crazy plan to make her his fake fiancee to get his previous fiancee and his parents off his back. Nadia is not made of the same “stock” as the Chandlers and has an iffy past with a mother who used to prostitute herself to men and pretty much left Nadia and her brother to grow up on their own. This backstory doesn’t sit well with Gray’s parents.

I am not sure why Gray’s parents didn’t see through his former fiancee’s shenanigans. The author really knows how to push all our buttons and get a rise from us. Since this is a shorter format book she has packed a lot of detail and backstory into this short read. I totally loved watching it all unfold. It was sort of like watching a train wreck in the midst of it happening. She has such a good handle on how to write these extra sexy books and still make it readable and on point.

I wonder if this might be part of a series since I think there are a couple of other characters in here worthy of their own Desire-line story.

If you love a good sexy romantic suspense book, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

I’m not a fan of billionaire romances, but was pleasantly surprised by this one. Well developed characters with a significant class difference who tackled the Cinderella fantasy of dating a wealthier man (and CEO of your company) head on. I appreciated that the heroine wasn’t working directly under the hero, which minimized any ickiness. I found the insta-lust much more believable (and hotter) than in Black Tie Billionaire, an earlier installment, because the heroine had been crushing on the hero for a year before their blackout-induced tryst, and got to live out her fantasy. So if you struggled with that book, as I did, give this one a try.