Chase is determined to take down the company that destroyed his family. Haley works for the current CEO, the son of the one who did the destroying. He loses sight of his mission when the sparks fly. Haley knows something isn't right with Chase, but goes ahead with a relationship anyway. A really good story and great characters.

In the fourth book of the seven Dynasties and Seven Sin Series, Jules Bennett brings us a story of revenge and redemption where two people collide as they search for answers and closure.

This saucy romance kept me turning the pages with her passionate and sexy couple who kept clashing, but continued to find their ways back to each other.

I received an advanced reader copy for an honest review.

FULL REVIEW ON FRESH FICTION

The next chapter in the Dynasties: Seven Sins continuity series, HIDDEN AMBITION is an entertaining contemporary romance. Haley is hardworking, tenacious, knows she's usually right, and wants to prove to everyone she can be successful on her own terms. In addition to keeping Black Crescent running from behind the scenes, Haley also runs a charity that helps students in need get scholarships, which really added another dynamic to her character. Chase is a typical billionaire hero: flirtatious, very handsome, and he's always going after what he wants--be it a lucrative job or the woman he finds irresistible. Haley and Chase are quick to fall in love, but they work well together and have instant chemistry neither can deny. Some of the loose ends that have been brought up throughout this series continue to develop, but at this point, they are being dragged out far too long. That being said, Haley and Chase are two charming characters and their road to happy-ever-after is enjoyable.

This was a good short workplace romance. Chase was out for revenge and that was a big part of the story. He doesn't expect the attraction between him and Haley. Chase and Haley were both pretty stubborn but had a great connection.

The Seven Sins series is really hit or miss for me. Unfortunately this was a bit of a miss. I didn’t feel interested in the characters and the pacing felt a bit off for my taste. DNF at 26%

Hidden Ambition by Jules Bennet is the fourth book in the Dynasties Seven Sins Series. I did not read the first 3 books even though normally I prefer to read a series in order. I did not feel I had missed alot but I would suggest you read the other books first. I wasn't thoroughly absorbed in this book and I don't know if it was missing the first few books or if it was lack of connecting with the characters.

Chase Hargrove was on a mission of revenge. He would take down the company that destroyed his family no matter who got in the way. All he needed to do was find a way to become the new CEO of the company so he could tear it apart from the inside.

Haley Shaw is a loyal Black Crescent employee who has seen so many amazing changes since her boss took over. She loves working for Josh and enjoys the fact that he allows her to invest time in her favorite charity. While fielding through the resumes of the new CEO prospects she feels something is off with Chase so she will get to the bottom of it all while spending time with him.

I felt the revenge by using the secretary tactic is a bit over played. I just couldn't connect with Haley and Chase.

I loved this story. Good thing the book is short because I just couldn't put it down.

I do recommend

I think this is my favorite of the series so far. I love how strong and resourceful Haley is.

Such a well written story that shows when you find the one you don’t let anything get in the way.

Some things are worth fighting for!

Jules Bennett's Harlequin romances about the high-profile modern-day business world are every bit as enjoyable as they are downright odd in the Harlequin lineup. The oddness comes from the fact that the lovebird-destiny of the two main characters never feels assured, and this is largely attributable to Bennett's skill at page-turning prose. In this novel, sultry, sexy Chase Hargrove is obsessed with destroying (from within, the surest way) the company that hurt his family, but his unwitting catspaw in the scheme, faithful company employee Haley Shaw, pulls at him on a personal level in ways he didn't anticipate. The ensuing conflict - between long-planned revenge and unexpected love - is very well-handled. Bennett's boardroom romances deserve a much wider audience.

4 star

I was pulled right into this story. The story has laughs, secrets, betrayal, and heartbreak.

If you have not read the below they are in this series.
Ruthless Pride (Dynasties: Seven Sins #1) by Naima Simone
Forbidden Lust (Dynasties: Seven Sins #2) by Karen Booth
Insatiable Hunger (Dynasties: Seven Sins #3) by Yahrah St. John


This is Haley and Chase’s story. Chase is out for revenge. He thinks he will be able to handle Haley and have her help him. But what he never expected was the hidden passion she has or the hot chemistry they have. What starts out as revenge quickly changes but when secrets are reveled who is really in charge? Will he still ger his revenge? If he does will it cost him the love he has for Haley?

I loved these characters. Both are strong characters that are stubborn. But all in all, I felt I was able to connect with the characters and the story was a great read.

I recommend this book.

I really loved Haley's character. She reminded me of myself. She used her intelligence to find the information she needed and went after what she wanted. I also liked Chase. He wasn't an arrogant billionaire. In fact he was humble and family was really important to him. He wanted to take revenge for his family and he went after it.

I just really couldn't get on with this book. For a start it was far too short. The romance and everything else seemed rushed and over done. Also, I really disliked Chase. He went after Hayley for no other reason then to try and seduce her into getting him a job. I found him manipulative and false and though Hayley was stupid for getting involved with him, she knew he was probably using her and it was also incredibly unethical.

Chase holds Black Crescent and its CEO responsible for the devastation that happened to his family even though it was more than a decade earlier. Now that the son of the man responsible is stepping back from the company to he is determined to take over to right the wrongs of the past even if it means using one of its employees to make it happen.

Haley is loyal to the company that gave her an opportunity when she needed it the most and it is one of the driving forces in her life. She is suspicious when Chase starts to purse her personally, but will she uncover the truth before he not only takes the company but her heart as well?

Chase is the perfect mix of sexy and successful while Haley is not only compassionate but savvy as well. Their feelings for each other are inconvenient to say the least and only they can decide if love or loyalty is more important.

***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley***

Chase and Haley, for some reason, never really connected for me.

It wasn't that they each had a secret they were keeping, as I love a good twisty romance and that didn't bother me at all. I think, what bothered me, is that it bothered them and I felt like they were justifying their behavior, to themselves and then to one another, for the entire book.

I guess, for them to really work for me, I needed both of them to be fine with what was happening and their part in it, and I never really believe in that.

There were parts of this I enjoyed, but unfortunately not enough of them to outweigh how I felt about the character arcs overall.

I am not able to recommend this book.

Jules Bennett’s Hidden Ambition is the fourth book in the Dynasties: Seven Sins series. The books in the series are loosely connected so this can easily be a standalone read.

Fifteen years ago, Vernon Lowell stole millions from his family and clients at Black Crescent Hedge Fund. He disappeared and left destruction and devastation in his wake. The sons and daughters of those he stole from have had to deal with not only their pain and loss but that of their parents as well. Chase Hargrove is one of those people. Chase had to watch his father go to prison for what Vernon did while his mother suffered a nervous breakdown. Over the years, Chase has worked hard and has bided his time, waiting to get revenge for the wrongs done to his family. With Joshua Lowell stepping down as CEO of Black Crescent, the company is looking for his replacement. The time has finally arrived for Chase to get his revenge by destroying Black Crescent from within. All he has to do is become the new CEO of the company. Chase thinks flirting and getting friendly with Josh’s assistant Haley will help.

Haley Shaw is one of Black Crescent’s most loyal, dedicated, and valuable employees. She stuck around during and after the Vernon scandal and has worked her way up to being Joshua’s right-hand woman. Haley is often overlooked as being just a secretary, but she’s so much more. Haley is not only dedicated to Black Crescent, but she’s also dedicated to her charity which helps kids like her who can’t afford to go to college go. The two jobs take up all of her time and leave little for a social life.

Haley finds the attention given to her by Chase to be a fun distraction. She knows she shouldn’t get involved with a candidate she has a decision in hiring and definitely not one who could become her boss. However, the attraction between her and Chase is too strong to ignore. Haley senses there’s more to Chase than meets the eye and her loyalty lies with Joshua and Black Crescent. To test her theory, she sets a trap for Chase that could destroy one or both of them forever.

Hidden Ambition was a book I didn’t want to like. I mean I’ve read the other books in the series and Chase has appeared in all of them. I didn’t want to like him. I thought he was a little too smooth and sure of himself. Oh, he’s definitely smooth and sure of himself, but this man just had me relaxing and losing myself to this story. I also wasn’t sure where Haley stood. I mean there’s something to be said about not always reading the blurb of a book. I had no idea what to expect. I loved the banter between these two. They’re playful and passionate. In a lot of ways, their pasts are similar.

One of my biggest complaints about this series is that it’s not tightly interconnected as much as I would have liked it to be. The mystery arc of the series has something to do with Joshua Lowell fathering a child he knows nothing about. When I first read Naima Simone’s Ruthless Pride, I wasn’t too happy that the mystery wasn’t cemented. Meaning, there wasn’t anything driving me to HAVE to read the next book, other than my love for the next author’s writing. I’m finding now that I just really don’t care about that mystery. The Seven Sins series is really and truly not about Josh fathering an unknown child, but about the heirs of the people his father stole from. However, more information regarding the child mystery has come to light.

I’m hoping to see more of Haley and Chase in the upcoming books of this series.

Chase Hargrove feels his family deserves some pay back after what one man did to his family years earlier. Back then he couldn't do nothing but now he's in a position to get back at the family who caused his pain. Haley Shaw is the forgotten daughter. Her parents told her she wasn't going to amount to nothing. She's been proving them wrong every since. Haley is Chase key to revenge. Chase tries to cozy up to Haley to get info out of her but it doesn't take long for him to realize she's special. Guilt creeps in. Haley isn't sure of Chase's motives so she sets a trap. Again guilt creeps in. These two have to come clean to have a chance at happiness. Easier said than done. Watching these two trying to figure themselves out was so much fun. Chase has to struggle with the path he's been on for years and Haley had to figure out if she's worth being loved. Great read from page one. This book although part of series by multiple authors definitely reads as a stand alone.

These titles are fun and easy reads. During the pandemic it's nice to be able to live in a romantic fantasy.

Hidden Ambition by Jules Bennett is the fourth in the Seven Sins multi-author continuity from Harlequin Desire. Chase Hargrove is hotly pursuing the CEO position opening up at Black Crescent. He's the perfect candidate--accomplished, confident, capable... but also determined to exact revenge on behalf of his family, who was one of those devastated when Vernon Lowell took off years ago with the complete savings of many of the town's members.

Haley Shaw has been with Black Crescent since before that horrible betrayal took place. She's now the executive assistant, and a trusted member of the team tasked with finding Joshua Lowell's replacement. Because of that position, she finds herself on the receiving end of numerous gifts of thanks, including flowers, candy, and other treats. But she's deeply professional and would never (mis)use her position for her own gain.

While Chase initially approaches Haley to see if he can gain any additional insight into Joshua, Black Crescent, or the position, they are both quickly swept up in the tantalizing and irresistible passion that unfolds between them.

Jules Bennett's characters face quite the obstacles to true love! Chase is intent from the start on his goal to extract his pound of flesh, so to speak. When he and Haley decide to share a meal and then explore the unexpected desire that blooms, he realizes he may need to adjust his goals. And Haley knows that not everything is on the up and up, so she's kept some secrets of her own as well.

Ms Bennett's story kept me turning the pages and rooting for their happy ending!

Quick easy romance with a workplace trope.
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This story had a great twist to it because instead of the male character being in charge, it was the female that was in the lead and held all of the cards.

This is the first time I’ve read this author and I love the story that she created and crafted for us. Hidden Ambition has a lovely, easy flow with low drama and a wonderful connection between all of the characters.

I love Haley’s relationship with her boss and the way she was so highly protective of her company. Plus, she was able to see beyond the BS and get to the real story as she got to know Chase more and more. I loved them together.

Bennett brought us just the right amount of build up, romance, plenty of spice and heat, with a solid story that is so satisfying and leaves you with a smile. A sweet and spicy romance to curl up with which will not disappoint!

While this book is a part of a long series of books that are tied together, this is definitely a stand alone story.

Hidden Ambition by Jules Bennet was a new take on revenge to lovers storyline. Hidden Ambition is part of the Seven Sins series but read very well as a standalone novel.

Haley was a strong female that you cannot help but like and cheer for. Chase is after the CEO position and is flirting with her to get info about the company. I LOVED the bouquet he bought her.

You know he is going to fall for her but from there Jules kept us on our toes trying to figure out who was going to out maneuver who. I enjoyed their banter and dating adventures.

Sexual content –4 several physical scenes. This is very much a romance story
Violence – none
Language – d#mn – 49 times
Drinking – there was some minor drinking,

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.