A dazzling blend of ambition, desire, and Black excellence front and center.

In Backstage Benefits, LaQuette crafts a steamy, smart, and empowering romance that sizzles with sexual tension while spotlighting the intoxicating allure and high stakes of showbiz success. The latest in the Devereaux Inc. series, this Harlequin Desire novel is as luxe and unapologetic as its heroine.
In Backstage Benefits, sparks fly the moment powerhouse producer Josiah Manning lays eyes on Lyric Devereaux-Smith, the poised and glamorous lifestyle influencer redefining her identity after loss. He’s building the show that could land him the presidency of a major network. She’s finally stepping out of the shadows of widowhood and legacy to reclaim her own spotlight.

Josiah sees a star. Lyric sees a risk.
But what begins as a strategic pitch ignites into a no-holds-barred romance one too hot to stay behind the scenes.

Lyric Smith is the lifestyle mogul a woman who’s turned hustle into an empire. Focused, fierce, and flawlessly on-brand, she’s not here for distractions. But distraction comes in the form of Josiah Manning, a charismatic, brilliant Black TV producer with a vision and a very tempting proposition.

By day, he’s courting her to host a talk show that could redefine daytime television. By night? Their sizzling chemistry blurs the line between business and pleasure faster than a live broadcast can cut to commercial.
LaQuette doesn’t just write leads she spotlights them. Lyric is power and polish personified, while Josiah is equal parts suave and sincere. Their connection is hot, yes, but also built on mutual respect and real-world stakes.
Unlike so many romances where careers are obstacles, Backstage Benefits weaves professional ambition into the love story. Lyric’s business savvy is celebrated, not softened. Josiah’s vision respects her legacy while challenging her to dream bigger.

LaQuette delivers a romance that’s sexy, high-powered, and culturally resonant. It’s a love story grounded in mutual ambition, complex identity, and the heat of two people who refuse to settle for less than love or greatness.

Unfortunately I didn't love this one.

I enjoyed Lyric as a character but struggled with the pace. It had all the ingredients of a good Harlequin novel but it felt like a story which had been told a thousand times before with nothing in the plot or pace to make it stand out.

A new to me author and series, it won't be the last book I read as I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
There's plenty of chemistry between the characters, I liked and rooted for them.
The author did a good job in developing them as well as the plot and the setting.
Good storytelling and fast paced.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I found this one to be boring and I very much struggled reading it.

I can't recommend it since I just didn't like it .

A refreshingly vibrant voice. Backstage Benefits is a journey through heartache that shows courageous insight as well as tempting romance. Laquette dares to expose the heart while reawakening the dream.

Backstage Benefits by LaQuette.
Mills & Boon Desire.
Devereaux Inc., Book 2.
Lyric Smith didn’t become the nation’s most successful lifestyle guru by losing focus. Yet Josiah Manning, daytime television’s hottest young producer makes her do just that. Publicly, Josiah wants Lyric to star in a new talk show. Privately, he’s headlining her sexiest fantasies. But when their explosive chemistry leads to complications instead of contracts, will Lyric exit stage left alone?
I really enjoyed this book. Great story. I loved the chemistry between Josiah and Lyric. 5*.

Backstage Benefits brings us back into the world of Devereaux Inc. and it's just as fabulous as the first. I just love this couple, and the blurb hits it right on the head - Lyric and Josiah have some explosive chemistry, which is my favorite kind. Both characters are likable and their story is engaging and swoony. It's hard to stay vague when there are scenes I'm dying to talk about, but I'll keep those to myself for now. The story moves at a good pace and is just right for curling up in your favorite chair for an afternoon or evening, or if you can truly read just one more chapter, it's a good one for a couple of nights before bed. It's well-written and entertaining, and I just can't get enough of the world LaQuette has created with this series.