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Unexpected Love #1
Under a Falling Star
Falling stars are supposed to be a lucky sign, but not for Austen. Her new job, as a secretary in an international games company in Portland, OR, isn’t off to a good start. Her first assignment—decorating the Christmas tree in the lobby—results in a trip to the ER after Dee, the company’s second-in-command, gets hit by the star-shaped tree topper.
Dee blames her instant attraction to Austen on her head wound, not the magic of the falling star. She’s determined not to act on it, especially since Austen has no idea that Dee is practically her boss.
Dee blames her instant attraction to Austen on her head wound, not the magic of the falling star. She’s determined not to act on it, especially since Austen has no idea that Dee is practically her boss.
396 pages, Paperback
First published October 28, 2014
196 people are currently reading
3902 people want to read
About the author
Jae
119 books3,723 followersJae is the author of twenty-six award-winning romances between women. She lives in the sunniest city of Germany, near the French and Swiss borders. The writing bug bit her at the age of eleven.
She used to work as a psychologist but gave up her day job in 2013 to become a full-time writer and a part-time editor. As far as she’s concerned, it’s the best job in the world.
When she’s not writing, she is an avid reader of sapphic books, indulges her ice cream and office supply addictions, and watches way too many crime shows.
She used to work as a psychologist but gave up her day job in 2013 to become a full-time writer and a part-time editor. As far as she’s concerned, it’s the best job in the world.
When she’s not writing, she is an avid reader of sapphic books, indulges her ice cream and office supply addictions, and watches way too many crime shows.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews
August 19, 2017
Good read! loving,likable and well developed characters,romantic,family drama/businessWise and an enjoyable storyline with good chemistry and it's well written..recommend
July 8, 2017
This was an enjoyable romance book. I find myself really liking how Jae writes. I feel drawn into the characters and hopeful about their relationships, it just makes her books great to read. And Under a Falling Star is no exception. I found both the MC's Austen and Dee to be very likeable, even with Dee's harden exterior.
I thought the romance was a nice pace. No quick "I love yous" so it seemed realistic. I also enjoyed that Austen's best friend happened to be Dawn from Conflict of Interest It was nice to see her and Aiden, even in the small role that they played in this book. If you have not read Con of In, don't pass that book up!
If you are looking for a nice, enjoyable romance, I would easily recommend this.
I thought the romance was a nice pace. No quick "I love yous" so it seemed realistic. I also enjoyed that Austen's best friend happened to be Dawn from Conflict of Interest It was nice to see her and Aiden, even in the small role that they played in this book. If you have not read Con of In, don't pass that book up!
If you are looking for a nice, enjoyable romance, I would easily recommend this.
January 4, 2022
Review of Under a falling star by Jae, audiobook narrated by Abby Craden
This book was previously released on audio performed by another narrator, which is a rare case among lesfic audiobooks. I’ve had the chance now to listen to both and I’m glad that Ylva Publishing decided to bring Abby Craden on board as the final result is so much better and does justice to the story.
This is a beautiful lesbian workplace romance book between Austen, a secretary in a toy company, and Dee, the second in command. It all starts when the company’s Christmas tree’s star falls and injures Dee. Austen comes to her rescue eventually changing Dee’s ill-tempered character and her life priorities…
I really enjoyed this opposites-attract romance. Dee is very well portrayed as an ice queen who is solely dedicated to her job, has a reputation as a ruthless businesswoman and has a family that doesn’t value her hard-working dedication. Austen, an administrative assistant with a tendency to speak her mind and get into trouble, somehow manages to see Dee in a more positive light. As Dee and Austen get to know each other, their attraction grows until it’s hard to hide their mutual feelings. But company policy and family pressure get in the way and Dee will have to decide whether Austen is worth risking her professional career for the sake of her own happiness.
If you’ve read Jae’s books you know that this author writes slow burn romances exceptionally well. Jae builds the attraction between the mains and their chemistry skillfully with each passing interaction. At a point, the tension is so thick that keeps the reader turning pages and hoping for a happy resolution.
However, Under a falling star goes beyond the strict romance to a critique of the role of women in business and in their own families. It’s a reflection on how gender expectations are different and the moral compass by which women and men are judged is unfairly unequal. Jae doesn’t overwhelm the reader with heavy judgments about this situation but she just unfolds the story and lets the reader reach their own conclusions. Thanks to the funny dialogues and humorous situations the novel counteracts this seriousness with a lighter tone in a balance that, in my opinion, feels just right.
I’ve read the book a few years ago, enjoyed it a lot and since then it’s on my list of Christmas-themed favourites. The first audiobook version, however, was a bit disappointing. Luckily for all Jae’s fans, Abby Craden came to the rescue and this new audiobook really takes the written words to another level. I loved how Ms. Craden brought both main characters to life and how their interactions felt natural and genuine. Very recommendable even outside of the holiday season.
Overall, a very entertaining workplace romance audiobook with lovable characters and excellent narration. 5 stars
Length: 8 hours and 5 minutes
This book was previously released on audio performed by another narrator, which is a rare case among lesfic audiobooks. I’ve had the chance now to listen to both and I’m glad that Ylva Publishing decided to bring Abby Craden on board as the final result is so much better and does justice to the story.
This is a beautiful lesbian workplace romance book between Austen, a secretary in a toy company, and Dee, the second in command. It all starts when the company’s Christmas tree’s star falls and injures Dee. Austen comes to her rescue eventually changing Dee’s ill-tempered character and her life priorities…
I really enjoyed this opposites-attract romance. Dee is very well portrayed as an ice queen who is solely dedicated to her job, has a reputation as a ruthless businesswoman and has a family that doesn’t value her hard-working dedication. Austen, an administrative assistant with a tendency to speak her mind and get into trouble, somehow manages to see Dee in a more positive light. As Dee and Austen get to know each other, their attraction grows until it’s hard to hide their mutual feelings. But company policy and family pressure get in the way and Dee will have to decide whether Austen is worth risking her professional career for the sake of her own happiness.
If you’ve read Jae’s books you know that this author writes slow burn romances exceptionally well. Jae builds the attraction between the mains and their chemistry skillfully with each passing interaction. At a point, the tension is so thick that keeps the reader turning pages and hoping for a happy resolution.
However, Under a falling star goes beyond the strict romance to a critique of the role of women in business and in their own families. It’s a reflection on how gender expectations are different and the moral compass by which women and men are judged is unfairly unequal. Jae doesn’t overwhelm the reader with heavy judgments about this situation but she just unfolds the story and lets the reader reach their own conclusions. Thanks to the funny dialogues and humorous situations the novel counteracts this seriousness with a lighter tone in a balance that, in my opinion, feels just right.
I’ve read the book a few years ago, enjoyed it a lot and since then it’s on my list of Christmas-themed favourites. The first audiobook version, however, was a bit disappointing. Luckily for all Jae’s fans, Abby Craden came to the rescue and this new audiobook really takes the written words to another level. I loved how Ms. Craden brought both main characters to life and how their interactions felt natural and genuine. Very recommendable even outside of the holiday season.
Overall, a very entertaining workplace romance audiobook with lovable characters and excellent narration. 5 stars
Length: 8 hours and 5 minutes
October 3, 2020
A very entertaining romance. I really like Jae's humorous style of writing. The appearance of Dawn and Aiden put "Conflict of Interest" high on my re-read list.
May 16, 2019
4.5 stars
Another amazing story by Jae. As one of my favorite lesfic authors, I have developed high expectations of her novels and I must say this story met them spectacularly. I am quite late to this particular party, but I’m so glad I didn’t miss out.
The overall pace of the story is what I enjoyed the most, it being not overly fast or slow. It kept my attention until the end and with my overly packed schedule, that says quite a lot.
The romance was believable and showed an accurate description of those who are hesitant to begin a relationship at work. It was not a slow build burning romance because the main characters had chemistry from the time they first met, but they were unsure of beginning a relationship as a boss and an employee. Watching them struggle until finally starting to date seriously was enjoyable
Another home run from Jae. If I’m struggling to find a good new lesfic romance, I always turn to her. Would absolutely recommend.
Another amazing story by Jae. As one of my favorite lesfic authors, I have developed high expectations of her novels and I must say this story met them spectacularly. I am quite late to this particular party, but I’m so glad I didn’t miss out.
The overall pace of the story is what I enjoyed the most, it being not overly fast or slow. It kept my attention until the end and with my overly packed schedule, that says quite a lot.
The romance was believable and showed an accurate description of those who are hesitant to begin a relationship at work. It was not a slow build burning romance because the main characters had chemistry from the time they first met, but they were unsure of beginning a relationship as a boss and an employee. Watching them struggle until finally starting to date seriously was enjoyable
Another home run from Jae. If I’m struggling to find a good new lesfic romance, I always turn to her. Would absolutely recommend.
December 27, 2021
Great romance. I just don't wanted the book to end!
Read again in December 2021, before starting "Partners", the second book in this series. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I love ice-queens...
Read again in December 2021, before starting "Partners", the second book in this series. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I love ice-queens...
November 17, 2021
Another happy feel good Jae read. Light fluff but still fun.
December 6, 2019
5 ★
I’ve read a couple of Jae's books now and enjoyed them all so I had a feeling I would like this one as well. I love Jae's writing, something about it just pulls you in and makes it almost impossible to stop reading. Even when I had to stop reading to do other things I couldn’t stop thinking about this book and what would happen next.
I really loved both characters and the character development through the story was great. I loved that through their relationship they communicated with each other, I feel like in so many books a lot of the couples just don’t tell each other things and it makes me super annoyed. So kudos for writing a couple with healthy communication skills.
I really liked everything about this book, I honestly can’t think of one single thing I disliked. When I read the description I thought this was gonna be like a full Christmas story kind of thing which was what I was looking for, but I wasn’t disappointed at all when it turned out not to be.
I’ll definitely recommend reading this book if you’re looking for just a cute, holiday-ish read, with not to much angst and just the right amount of steamy scenes.
After reading this I’m definitely gonna put Jae's other books higher on my “to be read list”. I can’t wait to see what more she has in store.
I’ve read a couple of Jae's books now and enjoyed them all so I had a feeling I would like this one as well. I love Jae's writing, something about it just pulls you in and makes it almost impossible to stop reading. Even when I had to stop reading to do other things I couldn’t stop thinking about this book and what would happen next.
I really loved both characters and the character development through the story was great. I loved that through their relationship they communicated with each other, I feel like in so many books a lot of the couples just don’t tell each other things and it makes me super annoyed. So kudos for writing a couple with healthy communication skills.
I really liked everything about this book, I honestly can’t think of one single thing I disliked. When I read the description I thought this was gonna be like a full Christmas story kind of thing which was what I was looking for, but I wasn’t disappointed at all when it turned out not to be.
I’ll definitely recommend reading this book if you’re looking for just a cute, holiday-ish read, with not to much angst and just the right amount of steamy scenes.
After reading this I’m definitely gonna put Jae's other books higher on my “to be read list”. I can’t wait to see what more she has in store.
January 29, 2015
I didn't enjoy this story as much as I thought I would. Admittedly, it's not badly written (although sometimes the narration doesn't really flow), and there are some sweet moments. It's a nice quick read but I think I expect a lot more from a romance novel. I expect fireworks, chemistry, sexual tension, fluff, characters I could fall in love with, a powerful love but a believable story. Overall the story had very little of that and left me cold.
The main reason is the lack of originality in the plot: Under A Falling Star is a classic office lesbian romance story.
I feel like I have read it a hundred times before, and I'm sure I won't remember it in a few weeks.
The characters are the typical ones for an office romance: the boss who's supposedly a monster with her employees, the source of every gossip, and who spends all her time in the office, and the sweet naive secretary ("administrative assistant") who comes and saves the other woman from her workaholic ways by showing her there is more to life than work.
The way they meet is hardly original either (an incident that leads to both of them going to the hospital and a sleepover).
Obviously, the main source of angst in this story is the fact that they have to hide their relationship. I may be difficult, but I was bored out of my mind.
The second reason is my dislike for one of the characters. While Dee is quite an interesting person, with flows and raw emotions, and an actual backstory, I found Austen to be incredibly dull and predictable. Is she at all human? She is tolerant, sweet, beautiful, smart... she is basically perfect and it got on my nerves during most of the story, because the lack of deep emotions she displays is quite unsettling. Nothing seems to really hurt or upset her or when it does, it's handled in a very superficial way, and I just... didn't feel it.
And that's the problem with this. Feelings, or lack thereof. I didn't find myself swooning over their romance, didn't feel hot under the collar when they finally slept together, didn't have butterflies in my belly and all the other cliché things I can't think of right now.
I didn't really see the chemistry between Dee and Austen, and even if I had, the rest of the story was really disappointing, anyway. Especially the second half of the book. The way they say "I love you" for the first time is hardly romantic, but then again maybe I'm a romantic in the classical sense and expect more "explosive" and powerful moments or declarations of love.
Surprisingly enough, I may be that but I still can't stand the U-haul aspects of those typical lesbian romances. The pace of their relationship is just off. Not even 6 months after their relationship, they admit to each other that they've found the love of their life. I find it pretty naive, and could understand it if the love between the two was indisputable, in the true-love-soul-mate kind of sense, but that's not the case in this story.
I finished the book because I'm a bit OCD and I can't stand not knowing how a story ends even if I find it boring. But I'm so surprised the average rating for this is as high as it is. Don't let it fool you!
The main reason is the lack of originality in the plot: Under A Falling Star is a classic office lesbian romance story.
I feel like I have read it a hundred times before, and I'm sure I won't remember it in a few weeks.
The characters are the typical ones for an office romance: the boss who's supposedly a monster with her employees, the source of every gossip, and who spends all her time in the office, and the sweet naive secretary ("administrative assistant") who comes and saves the other woman from her workaholic ways by showing her there is more to life than work.
The way they meet is hardly original either (an incident that leads to both of them going to the hospital and a sleepover).
Obviously, the main source of angst in this story is the fact that they have to hide their relationship. I may be difficult, but I was bored out of my mind.
The second reason is my dislike for one of the characters. While Dee is quite an interesting person, with flows and raw emotions, and an actual backstory, I found Austen to be incredibly dull and predictable. Is she at all human? She is tolerant, sweet, beautiful, smart... she is basically perfect and it got on my nerves during most of the story, because the lack of deep emotions she displays is quite unsettling. Nothing seems to really hurt or upset her or when it does, it's handled in a very superficial way, and I just... didn't feel it.
And that's the problem with this. Feelings, or lack thereof. I didn't find myself swooning over their romance, didn't feel hot under the collar when they finally slept together, didn't have butterflies in my belly and all the other cliché things I can't think of right now.
I didn't really see the chemistry between Dee and Austen, and even if I had, the rest of the story was really disappointing, anyway. Especially the second half of the book. The way they say "I love you" for the first time is hardly romantic, but then again maybe I'm a romantic in the classical sense and expect more "explosive" and powerful moments or declarations of love.
Surprisingly enough, I may be that but I still can't stand the U-haul aspects of those typical lesbian romances. The pace of their relationship is just off. Not even 6 months after their relationship, they admit to each other that they've found the love of their life. I find it pretty naive, and could understand it if the love between the two was indisputable, in the true-love-soul-mate kind of sense, but that's not the case in this story.
I finished the book because I'm a bit OCD and I can't stand not knowing how a story ends even if I find it boring. But I'm so surprised the average rating for this is as high as it is. Don't let it fool you!
June 7, 2018
What's not to love?
Is Jae... I love her books.
The Book: we have 2 great MC with a believable chemistry, no insta-love, great dialogues, I love them.
Austen: is an honest, smart and romantic woman who is filled with love.
Dee: My sweet cinnamon roll that everyone thinks is an Ice-queen but in reality, she is just protecting herself. I want to hug her and punch her family.
One of the things I like about Jae's books in that she doesn's add the "80% break up drama mark" we experiment the building of a romance ( with some very hot scenes in between), the MC talk, like really they communicate with each other.
So, great book, I'm sure I will re-read it many times, totally worth staying awake to finish it.
P.S. I read and listen to the book so I can recommend both versions.
Is Jae... I love her books.
The Book: we have 2 great MC with a believable chemistry, no insta-love, great dialogues, I love them.
Austen: is an honest, smart and romantic woman who is filled with love.
Dee: My sweet cinnamon roll that everyone thinks is an Ice-queen but in reality, she is just protecting herself. I want to hug her and punch her family.
One of the things I like about Jae's books in that she doesn's add the "80% break up drama mark" we experiment the building of a romance ( with some very hot scenes in between), the MC talk, like really they communicate with each other.
So, great book, I'm sure I will re-read it many times, totally worth staying awake to finish it.
P.S. I read and listen to the book so I can recommend both versions.
December 25, 2021
4.5 stars
This one's a prime example of how the right narrator can elevate the experience of a book! I am a huge fan of Jae's, but this one wasn't high up on the list of my favorites of hers when I initially read it. But I was excited Abby Craden was hired to narrate the re-vamped audiobook version and knew I wanted to give it a go.
This was much more enjoyable for me than the first time around and it was the perfect listen to wrap up on Christmas Day! The only thing SLIGHTLY distracting is that Austen's voice was much like Dawn's voice in Conflict of Interest and since Dawn makes appearances in this one, Abby had to change Dawn's to differentiate them. Occupational hazard, I guess. Not a big deal but it's interesting how that sticks in your mind - especially with as many books as Abby has narrated!
I definitely recommend this version.
This one's a prime example of how the right narrator can elevate the experience of a book! I am a huge fan of Jae's, but this one wasn't high up on the list of my favorites of hers when I initially read it. But I was excited Abby Craden was hired to narrate the re-vamped audiobook version and knew I wanted to give it a go.
This was much more enjoyable for me than the first time around and it was the perfect listen to wrap up on Christmas Day! The only thing SLIGHTLY distracting is that Austen's voice was much like Dawn's voice in Conflict of Interest and since Dawn makes appearances in this one, Abby had to change Dawn's to differentiate them. Occupational hazard, I guess. Not a big deal but it's interesting how that sticks in your mind - especially with as many books as Abby has narrated!
I definitely recommend this version.
Read
October 10, 2016i made it a couple chapters before having to give up and return the audiobook. the narrator made each mc sound like a flamboyant gay man mixed with Oprah Winfrey. I've been known to listen to anything to the end, even monotone and very amateur narrators.
She tried very hard and maybe had some theater background , lots of feeling and inflection, but nobody talks like that....!
Sorry to say, this is the first audio book in my life that i couldn't finish.
She tried very hard and maybe had some theater background , lots of feeling and inflection, but nobody talks like that....!
Sorry to say, this is the first audio book in my life that i couldn't finish.
October 31, 2022
An entertaining workplace romance with likeable characters. The disrespect and misogyny in Dee's family was a bit of a put off and it would have been nice if it got resolved or improved in any way by the end but it didn't. Abby Craden's narration was enjoyable as always.
October 31, 2021
Chuffing brilliant :)
Why have I not read this sooner??
Why have I not read this sooner??
December 12, 2016
Accidents happen... but this accident leads to a connection nearer protagonist expects. First day of Austen’s new job and she is put to task by decorating the Christmas tree. When the tree topper falls and hit’s Dee on the head Austen doesn’t know that Dee is intact the infamous COO of the company who has the nickname Attila the Hun! But Austen gets to know the person behind the facade and begins to fall deeply for her! But how can a relationship with the boss work?
Jae writing once again was done beautifully. Great story and actually a lot of fun to read! Jae has a way of drawing you into the story and making you feel like your living it. The main protagonists Austen and Dee where realistic and true to what I imagine would be a difficult situation.
One scene I felt could have had a little more was when Austen and Dee are in the office late one night working... I felt that it had the potential of being a rather sexy scene but I wasn't to upset because it was still written beautifully and the characters had a heart felt moment.
I'll need to download Jae’s other novel conflict of interest as the main protagonists from that novel play a cameo role in under a falling star. Under a falling star is a stand-alone novel but it would be beneficial to read Conflict of interest first and let be honest it’s no hard ship to read something else by Jae.
4 stars
Jae writing once again was done beautifully. Great story and actually a lot of fun to read! Jae has a way of drawing you into the story and making you feel like your living it. The main protagonists Austen and Dee where realistic and true to what I imagine would be a difficult situation.
One scene I felt could have had a little more was when Austen and Dee are in the office late one night working... I felt that it had the potential of being a rather sexy scene but I wasn't to upset because it was still written beautifully and the characters had a heart felt moment.
I'll need to download Jae’s other novel conflict of interest as the main protagonists from that novel play a cameo role in under a falling star. Under a falling star is a stand-alone novel but it would be beneficial to read Conflict of interest first and let be honest it’s no hard ship to read something else by Jae.
4 stars
September 23, 2021
This is my favourite Jae novel that I've read so far. I adored both Dee and Austen as individual characters but they also made an exceptional pair as well.
This is a very sweet romance, which is what I say for every one of Jae's books I've read so far but the characters are also so loveable and realistic. The story itself is developed really well, as there is no instalove or unrealistic advances within their relationship development at all, plus both characters grow individually within the novel itself. In some ways, it is quite a simplistic love story but I think the reason why it works so well are the characters and their very realistic depiction, primarily with Dee. Although she comes across as distant, we see that she's been hurt by those closest to her and has hardened her exterior in self-preservation.
All in all, a great lesfic romance.
This is a very sweet romance, which is what I say for every one of Jae's books I've read so far but the characters are also so loveable and realistic. The story itself is developed really well, as there is no instalove or unrealistic advances within their relationship development at all, plus both characters grow individually within the novel itself. In some ways, it is quite a simplistic love story but I think the reason why it works so well are the characters and their very realistic depiction, primarily with Dee. Although she comes across as distant, we see that she's been hurt by those closest to her and has hardened her exterior in self-preservation.
All in all, a great lesfic romance.
December 20, 2021
RE-READ: December 2021
If you are looking for an excuse or reminder to re-read an old favourite, then let this be it. This was even more of a joy to read a second time around, the perfect pick-me-up book if you ask me.
4/5 stars
OMG I loved this book! Jae is quickly becoming a go-to author for me because she hasn't let me down yet. This was a really fun romance that just had me smiling the whole time. Yes, there were quite a few tropes in this book, like the ice-queen and the forbidden office romance, but I just gobbled it up. I enjoyed it from the beginning until the very end, I just had such a fun time reading this book. The characters, like always with Jae, were extremely loveable but flawed. They were great alone but together, they just complemented each other perfectly. Their chemistry and cheeky banter was constant and honestly gave me life while reading this. I also loved how Jae included characters (Dawn and Aiden) from another book series, because it has made me super interested in reading their book now!
If you are looking for an excuse or reminder to re-read an old favourite, then let this be it. This was even more of a joy to read a second time around, the perfect pick-me-up book if you ask me.
4/5 stars
OMG I loved this book! Jae is quickly becoming a go-to author for me because she hasn't let me down yet. This was a really fun romance that just had me smiling the whole time. Yes, there were quite a few tropes in this book, like the ice-queen and the forbidden office romance, but I just gobbled it up. I enjoyed it from the beginning until the very end, I just had such a fun time reading this book. The characters, like always with Jae, were extremely loveable but flawed. They were great alone but together, they just complemented each other perfectly. Their chemistry and cheeky banter was constant and honestly gave me life while reading this. I also loved how Jae included characters (Dawn and Aiden) from another book series, because it has made me super interested in reading their book now!
February 8, 2018
I love the way Jae's novels take me on a journey through the relationship. I don't feel like I'm racing to a destination, rather more like meandering through scenery. That's not to say that the journey is all sweetness and light, there are always complications and missed signs.
Under a Falling Star is a common trope where two women meet, get on remarkably well, only to discover that they work together and one of them is the boss. What makes this different is the writing and the characters. It's filled with humour and good dialogue. The characters and their interpersonal relationships are interesting and I like the way Jae doesn't try to make the characters with crappy attitudes better or change their behaviour.
I really enjoyed this and although I haven't read a lot of Jae yet, I've haven't come across one I didn't like.
Under a Falling Star is a common trope where two women meet, get on remarkably well, only to discover that they work together and one of them is the boss. What makes this different is the writing and the characters. It's filled with humour and good dialogue. The characters and their interpersonal relationships are interesting and I like the way Jae doesn't try to make the characters with crappy attitudes better or change their behaviour.
I really enjoyed this and although I haven't read a lot of Jae yet, I've haven't come across one I didn't like.
March 31, 2017
When I first read this book back in November of 2014, I ended up giving it a rating of 5 stars (well, more accurately, a rating of 4.75, but that still means 5 stars were clicked on). After rereading 4 other Jae books this week, and rating all of them higher than I did for their first read, I had a strong suspicion that this one would be as well – rated higher than first read. I was right that my rating changed. But I now wish to rate this somewhere closer to 2.
Before I get into the book or why I thought it being closer to a 2 star work this time, I take a brief break for the only thing I actually wrote in my status updates while reading this book for the second time: When I decided to reread this book, an obvious stand-alone, I did not expect to find that it too was connected to other books. I was both right and wrong – right that it is not connected to that Los Angeles series (Hollywood Series), but wrong since it is connected to the Portland series (that two book cop series). One of the main characters in this book, Austen, is best friends with Dawn – and through her friends with Aidan. Aidan and Dawn are the main characters in the Portland series (though I suspect someone else is the main in the second book in the series, but other than a third name in the book description, a Kade something or other, I didn’t see a specific couple mentioned as the mains in that book; maybe Jae broke her usual practice and actually had more than one book starring the same characters – don’t know, have only read the first book in that Portland series).
Right, so, the book.
The book opens with two main characters – Austen Brooks and Danielle ‘Dee’ Saunders. Austen is just starting work at a new job, as an administrative assistant (or, as some sometimes say in the book ‘just a secretary’), while Dee is number two in the toy company. The COO – chief operating officer.
Before Austen ever meet Dee, she learned – or I should say heard gossip indicating that Dee is basically the worst human who ever existed and is nicknamed ‘Attila’. For some unknown reason, Austen actually uses that nickname to Dee’s face. Didn’t really seem ‘normal’ or ‘in character’ for Austen to do that – she’s strong willed and stubborn, but didn’t get presented as being a gossipy bitch. So her random use of the nickname was odd. As luck would have it, good or bad luck, Austen didn’t actually know that she was using that nickname directly to Dee because she didn’t know ‘the injured woman’s’ name when she used the phrase.
Injured woman? Well, backing up – the marketing department have been given the task of decorating the lobby Christmas tree, Austen took on the task because none of the weak assholes in her department would do it. Austen came up with the idea of putting up silver stars which had personal statements on them from everyone in the company – statements about what that individual wished for. I’m mentioning all of this so I can then mention that, with a great deal of reluctance, Dee hung up a star on the tree. Then promptly, because she’s a know-it-all bitch, started redoing the decorations, which caused the top star to fall and slam into her forehead. By weird and unlikely coincidence, Austen was right there and rushed over to help. This included a visit to an emergency room, and Dee’s home to ‘watch over her’. At no time did Dee give her full name and position within the company to Austen.
So. Austen has the back-story of: two years before the start of this book a relationship she had been in, with a ‘Brenda’, imploded when it came out that Austen was actually ‘the other woman’ and that Brenda had been cheating on her partner with Austen. Not something Austen knew. Years before that, when Austen was 16 her mother died. This is another ‘warping life’ situation (another in addition to that situation with Brenda). I’d say exactly what I mean but . . . spoilers and stuff.
Dee is not an ice queen. An ice queen is cold and emotionally distant – someone who might be bitchy, but in a stern, distant, cold way. No, Dee is way too emotional to be an ice queen (an ice queen might be a bundle of emotion, boiling, rioting emotion - but suppressed, not allowed to be seen by others - Dee has no problem having her emotions seen by others)). She has some of the same characteristics that go along with being one – being thought negatively by those around her, having few or no friends, etc. etc. But Dee is way to fiery and shout-y to be a closed off ice queen. She’s the kind to take out her frustrations on innocent fragile office equipment – she goes through computer mice like she was a hungry snake (and no, she doesn’t eat the mice); she screams loudly at basically everyone around her. She’s a bitch and everyone hates her.
Holy fuck that’s a messed up: a) family (Dee’s); b) company. The company is filled with nasty horrible trolls who can’t seem to actually do work – instead they seem to always be wandering the halls bickering and saying the nasty-est gossip about everyone else in the building they can think of. Horrible horrible company. Probably the worst company to work for in Portland, nah, in the USA.
Dee’s family? Filled with leaches, alpha male assholes, and the like who treat Dee like underperforming dirt, and ‘a girl’ – and obviously ‘girls don’t’ have a head for business’.
Quite frankly this book pissed me off from beginning to end (wow, who would have guess that from what I’ve written so far, eh? Heh). First Austen gets way out of proportionally angry with Dee when the lie of omission occurred (when Dee didn’t immediately scream her name and business title at Austen when they first meet; Dee did try telling Austen during the evening and morning of that ‘emergency event situation’, but Austen kept stopping her from being able to do so; though Dee didn’t try too hard to tell Austen – and did go out of her way to try to keep others from saying her last name in her and Austen’s presence). Second – what the fuck? Dee is described as having a massive and impressive educational background (good college, graduated summa cum laude etc etc.), and she broke away from the family business (as in her father’s, and 3 of her four brothers) to . . . . work for her uncle. WTF? If she was actually willing to break away that far, why the fuck would she work for the uncle? No one in her family respects, or treats her as anything other than an object to acquire a man – and the man would go work in the business while presumably Dee would be somewhere in the background, barefoot and pregnant. Dee’s family is the scum of the earth. Chauvinistic, misogynistic assholes. Why the fuck did Dee go to work for the uncle? It wasn’t like it was her only option – for fuck sake, she got given this background of being super good and having this impressive education so . . . why? WHY? WTF? It isn’t like this is some surprise that they think and act this way – Dee has always known this about her family.
And that ‘good brother’? To a certain extent, he is actually even worse than the others. Because he was ‘nicer’ than the others, he . . . um wasn’t an obvious asshole. But! Even if he might have wished to do so he never backed up his sister, no, instead, he joined in on the screaming, shouting, dickish comments and actions. And – fuck him. Fuck him with a rusty screwdriver. Forcing your assistant to pick up something you fucking forgot on your desk, and drive hours out of her way – when she’s supposed to be on vacation? Fuck you you fucking asshole. The good brother. Fuck that.
One last point –
My blood is boiling. Fucking people in this book. Fuck them all. I’ve never gotten around to reading the other book in that Portland series (or the short story that occurs after the second book), and now believe I never want to. Since two of the people in that series pop up in this one. Mind you, they were the lone sane people in this book, but they ‘allowed’ themselves to be associated with this book so . . .. bah, I’m being stupid but I can’t bring myself to read the rest of the Portland series now.
Rating: 2.4
March 31 2017
Before I get into the book or why I thought it being closer to a 2 star work this time, I take a brief break for the only thing I actually wrote in my status updates while reading this book for the second time: When I decided to reread this book, an obvious stand-alone, I did not expect to find that it too was connected to other books. I was both right and wrong – right that it is not connected to that Los Angeles series (Hollywood Series), but wrong since it is connected to the Portland series (that two book cop series). One of the main characters in this book, Austen, is best friends with Dawn – and through her friends with Aidan. Aidan and Dawn are the main characters in the Portland series (though I suspect someone else is the main in the second book in the series, but other than a third name in the book description, a Kade something or other, I didn’t see a specific couple mentioned as the mains in that book; maybe Jae broke her usual practice and actually had more than one book starring the same characters – don’t know, have only read the first book in that Portland series).
Right, so, the book.
The book opens with two main characters – Austen Brooks and Danielle ‘Dee’ Saunders. Austen is just starting work at a new job, as an administrative assistant (or, as some sometimes say in the book ‘just a secretary’), while Dee is number two in the toy company. The COO – chief operating officer.
Before Austen ever meet Dee, she learned – or I should say heard gossip indicating that Dee is basically the worst human who ever existed and is nicknamed ‘Attila’. For some unknown reason, Austen actually uses that nickname to Dee’s face. Didn’t really seem ‘normal’ or ‘in character’ for Austen to do that – she’s strong willed and stubborn, but didn’t get presented as being a gossipy bitch. So her random use of the nickname was odd. As luck would have it, good or bad luck, Austen didn’t actually know that she was using that nickname directly to Dee because she didn’t know ‘the injured woman’s’ name when she used the phrase.
Injured woman? Well, backing up – the marketing department have been given the task of decorating the lobby Christmas tree, Austen took on the task because none of the weak assholes in her department would do it. Austen came up with the idea of putting up silver stars which had personal statements on them from everyone in the company – statements about what that individual wished for. I’m mentioning all of this so I can then mention that, with a great deal of reluctance, Dee hung up a star on the tree. Then promptly, because she’s a know-it-all bitch, started redoing the decorations, which caused the top star to fall and slam into her forehead. By weird and unlikely coincidence, Austen was right there and rushed over to help. This included a visit to an emergency room, and Dee’s home to ‘watch over her’. At no time did Dee give her full name and position within the company to Austen.
So. Austen has the back-story of: two years before the start of this book a relationship she had been in, with a ‘Brenda’, imploded when it came out that Austen was actually ‘the other woman’ and that Brenda had been cheating on her partner with Austen. Not something Austen knew. Years before that, when Austen was 16 her mother died. This is another ‘warping life’ situation (another in addition to that situation with Brenda). I’d say exactly what I mean but . . . spoilers and stuff.
Dee is not an ice queen. An ice queen is cold and emotionally distant – someone who might be bitchy, but in a stern, distant, cold way. No, Dee is way too emotional to be an ice queen (an ice queen might be a bundle of emotion, boiling, rioting emotion - but suppressed, not allowed to be seen by others - Dee has no problem having her emotions seen by others)). She has some of the same characteristics that go along with being one – being thought negatively by those around her, having few or no friends, etc. etc. But Dee is way to fiery and shout-y to be a closed off ice queen. She’s the kind to take out her frustrations on innocent fragile office equipment – she goes through computer mice like she was a hungry snake (and no, she doesn’t eat the mice); she screams loudly at basically everyone around her. She’s a bitch and everyone hates her.
Holy fuck that’s a messed up: a) family (Dee’s); b) company. The company is filled with nasty horrible trolls who can’t seem to actually do work – instead they seem to always be wandering the halls bickering and saying the nasty-est gossip about everyone else in the building they can think of. Horrible horrible company. Probably the worst company to work for in Portland, nah, in the USA.
Dee’s family? Filled with leaches, alpha male assholes, and the like who treat Dee like underperforming dirt, and ‘a girl’ – and obviously ‘girls don’t’ have a head for business’.
Quite frankly this book pissed me off from beginning to end (wow, who would have guess that from what I’ve written so far, eh? Heh). First Austen gets way out of proportionally angry with Dee when the lie of omission occurred (when Dee didn’t immediately scream her name and business title at Austen when they first meet; Dee did try telling Austen during the evening and morning of that ‘emergency event situation’, but Austen kept stopping her from being able to do so; though Dee didn’t try too hard to tell Austen – and did go out of her way to try to keep others from saying her last name in her and Austen’s presence). Second – what the fuck? Dee is described as having a massive and impressive educational background (good college, graduated summa cum laude etc etc.), and she broke away from the family business (as in her father’s, and 3 of her four brothers) to . . . . work for her uncle. WTF? If she was actually willing to break away that far, why the fuck would she work for the uncle? No one in her family respects, or treats her as anything other than an object to acquire a man – and the man would go work in the business while presumably Dee would be somewhere in the background, barefoot and pregnant. Dee’s family is the scum of the earth. Chauvinistic, misogynistic assholes. Why the fuck did Dee go to work for the uncle? It wasn’t like it was her only option – for fuck sake, she got given this background of being super good and having this impressive education so . . . why? WHY? WTF? It isn’t like this is some surprise that they think and act this way – Dee has always known this about her family.
And that ‘good brother’? To a certain extent, he is actually even worse than the others. Because he was ‘nicer’ than the others, he . . . um wasn’t an obvious asshole. But! Even if he might have wished to do so he never backed up his sister, no, instead, he joined in on the screaming, shouting, dickish comments and actions. And – fuck him. Fuck him with a rusty screwdriver. Forcing your assistant to pick up something you fucking forgot on your desk, and drive hours out of her way – when she’s supposed to be on vacation? Fuck you you fucking asshole. The good brother. Fuck that.
One last point –
My blood is boiling. Fucking people in this book. Fuck them all. I’ve never gotten around to reading the other book in that Portland series (or the short story that occurs after the second book), and now believe I never want to. Since two of the people in that series pop up in this one. Mind you, they were the lone sane people in this book, but they ‘allowed’ themselves to be associated with this book so . . .. bah, I’m being stupid but I can’t bring myself to read the rest of the Portland series now.
Rating: 2.4
March 31 2017
September 26, 2019
Loved it! The chemistry between the MC was amazing. I can’t wait to read more from author.
December 25, 2021
This was a nice romance. I was under the impression that it had a bit more to do with a Christmas/the holidays from the description, but it really doesn’t at all. I never quite connected with Dee too much, and found her personality grating and grumpiness a bit too much for me personally. She did get better when she was with Austen, but it just never clicked in the way I wanted it to. It was enjoyable, but I find that Jae’s books for me are either solidly in the “this was okay and I mostly liked it” camp or I love them. This was one of the former, for me.
August 4, 2024
OK, OK, enough already. I just so love the Portland Police Bureau Series and this mentions Aiden and Dawn who are genuine superstars - so though stand alone adds to the series. I'm on holiday and loving my Jae-fest. She is so good!!
April 5, 2019
I've really loved the two other books by Jae that I've read. I might like this one, but I can't tell because I made the mistake of listening to it on Audible. It's part of the romance package, so I got it for, well not free. So no extra cost?
The story itself has one really grating flaw. The whole "we can't be together because we work at the same place" is kind of stupid. And forever telling people that "Dee is my boss" is even dumber. Dee is the COO. Austen is the administrative assistant in Marketing. There is no way to construe Dee as her boss, even taking the fact that Austen's actual boss is Dee's brother into account. This is sloppy and I really hated the thought that companies care if their employees date. Yeah, they have to be careful to have harassment policies in place to prevent abuse and it might make executives nervous if they were dating openly. And even a hint of a complaint can have severe consequences, particularly recently. But there's no way to legally dictate employee relationships and even trying would risk lawsuits. Which is just as well because increasingly, working together has become one of the major sources for finding romantic partners. And to be clear, I'm not saying there's no potential for tension there. I'm just saying that Jae ramped that to completely unreasonable levels in making it such a pervasive and explicit fear.
Still, I liked both protagonists and, once again, Jae made it easy to see these two women form a deep and abiding friendship before they ever drop into love and form romantic attachments. This is something I've really come to appreciate with Jae and hope she continues in other books (that I totally intend to read when I get a chance). Anyway, I'm giving this three stars because, while kinda good, listening to this travesty about drove me nuts!
A note about the Audiobook: This is the worst narration I've ever had the misfortune to experience. Shawn Marie Bryan has this breathy smirky intonation that makes you wonder if she means to make everything seem like a joke (and is truly inappropriate for Dee, the high-powered Exec). And she ends every couple of sentences on an up-intonation that makes it sound like a question. And she over-pronounces bunches of things, the worst of which are the terminal Ts that she makes their own syllable. So "that" is a two-syllable word with that final T taking up its own special position in the world. But none of that is the worst problem. The worst thing this clunky narrator does is insert her own creative pauses throughout the story like she spilled a box of commas all over the manuscript and couldn't be bothered to clean them up. Or like she entered open-mike night at a coffee shop for throw-back 60s beat poets and is going for all the snaps. Here's a sentence right from the Audible sample if you want to read along and check my rendering. I'm giving the punctuation as read "Then, of course, there's my first day, at CalHop Consulting, back, in San Diego." This happens over and over again and it's infuriating. Who hires a narrator with this kind of book-killing performance?!?
A note about Steamy: There are two explicit sex scenes, putting this in the middle of my steam tolerance. As before, Jae excels at giving the right level of detail and the arc of their growing intimacy through a select few explicit scenes. I like that she keeps them relevant but without overindulging.
The story itself has one really grating flaw. The whole "we can't be together because we work at the same place" is kind of stupid. And forever telling people that "Dee is my boss" is even dumber. Dee is the COO. Austen is the administrative assistant in Marketing. There is no way to construe Dee as her boss, even taking the fact that Austen's actual boss is Dee's brother into account. This is sloppy and I really hated the thought that companies care if their employees date. Yeah, they have to be careful to have harassment policies in place to prevent abuse and it might make executives nervous if they were dating openly. And even a hint of a complaint can have severe consequences, particularly recently. But there's no way to legally dictate employee relationships and even trying would risk lawsuits. Which is just as well because increasingly, working together has become one of the major sources for finding romantic partners. And to be clear, I'm not saying there's no potential for tension there. I'm just saying that Jae ramped that to completely unreasonable levels in making it such a pervasive and explicit fear.
Still, I liked both protagonists and, once again, Jae made it easy to see these two women form a deep and abiding friendship before they ever drop into love and form romantic attachments. This is something I've really come to appreciate with Jae and hope she continues in other books (that I totally intend to read when I get a chance). Anyway, I'm giving this three stars because, while kinda good, listening to this travesty about drove me nuts!
A note about the Audiobook: This is the worst narration I've ever had the misfortune to experience. Shawn Marie Bryan has this breathy smirky intonation that makes you wonder if she means to make everything seem like a joke (and is truly inappropriate for Dee, the high-powered Exec). And she ends every couple of sentences on an up-intonation that makes it sound like a question. And she over-pronounces bunches of things, the worst of which are the terminal Ts that she makes their own syllable. So "that" is a two-syllable word with that final T taking up its own special position in the world. But none of that is the worst problem. The worst thing this clunky narrator does is insert her own creative pauses throughout the story like she spilled a box of commas all over the manuscript and couldn't be bothered to clean them up. Or like she entered open-mike night at a coffee shop for throw-back 60s beat poets and is going for all the snaps. Here's a sentence right from the Audible sample if you want to read along and check my rendering. I'm giving the punctuation as read "Then, of course, there's my first day, at CalHop Consulting, back, in San Diego." This happens over and over again and it's infuriating. Who hires a narrator with this kind of book-killing performance?!?
A note about Steamy: There are two explicit sex scenes, putting this in the middle of my steam tolerance. As before, Jae excels at giving the right level of detail and the arc of their growing intimacy through a select few explicit scenes. I like that she keeps them relevant but without overindulging.
March 9, 2016
This has really been a fun reading.
Somehow the romance is similar to Gill McKnight Ambereye, but of course without any supernatural or werewolf. However it's the story of a stern, grumpy workaholic boss, Dee, who becomes a total sweetie when love touches her life. An interior journey, the miracle of love in resurrecting our life from a difficult family and a terrible environment.
The plot isn't really anything original, but the atmosphere is charming and the characters both very nice, so you side with them and the reading is absorbing (compelling, in my case, as I had to read through a couple of nights until morning!)
A good point is that the main characters are really good, moral persons, avoiding any unnecessary fuss that sometimes trouble this kind of books. Dee expecially, starting from more delicate situation, has exemplary reactions throughout the story, never falls short of Austen, and comes to be a really positive character.
Quality is in details.
Somehow the romance is similar to Gill McKnight Ambereye, but of course without any supernatural or werewolf. However it's the story of a stern, grumpy workaholic boss, Dee, who becomes a total sweetie when love touches her life. An interior journey, the miracle of love in resurrecting our life from a difficult family and a terrible environment.
The plot isn't really anything original, but the atmosphere is charming and the characters both very nice, so you side with them and the reading is absorbing (compelling, in my case, as I had to read through a couple of nights until morning!)
A good point is that the main characters are really good, moral persons, avoiding any unnecessary fuss that sometimes trouble this kind of books. Dee expecially, starting from more delicate situation, has exemplary reactions throughout the story, never falls short of Austen, and comes to be a really positive character.
Quality is in details.
September 18, 2018
Fantastic read! This is an office+forbidden romance story that you can read during vacation
when suddenly out of nowhere, you found yourself missing work.. Like that ever happened [smirks]
The h/h hit it off rather quickly but nothing serious happened until the 2nd half of the story.
My favorite h?
Austen all the way, Dee was pretty awesome too
[the family and office drama/politics that she went through for many years would have sent me to an early grave but she was a true superwoman] however Austen stole the limelight from page one. I truly love this book, can't gush over it enough. Austen had to be one of the most supporting gf/patrtner ever, she never hold grudges, always had Dee's back and interest + a chocoholic.
This book is unavailable on KU, Kindle price is USD1O.. but worth every dollar.
when suddenly out of nowhere, you found yourself missing work.. Like that ever happened [smirks]
The h/h hit it off rather quickly but nothing serious happened until the 2nd half of the story.
My favorite h?
Austen all the way, Dee was pretty awesome too
[the family and office drama/politics that she went through for many years would have sent me to an early grave but she was a true superwoman] however Austen stole the limelight from page one. I truly love this book, can't gush over it enough. Austen had to be one of the most supporting gf/patrtner ever, she never hold grudges, always had Dee's back and interest + a chocoholic.
This book is unavailable on KU, Kindle price is USD1O.. but worth every dollar.
May 14, 2021
I’m pretty sure now I’m a grumpy/sunshine fan; start from today!!
I can’t believe I’ve marked so many Jae’s books in my to-read list, but it took me this long to read one, and now I want to read them all.
I can’t believe I’ve marked so many Jae’s books in my to-read list, but it took me this long to read one, and now I want to read them all.
November 27, 2014
Romance with a Capital R.
Jae writes so well, I am constantly amazed that English is not her first language.
A lovely story, well realised and played out to it's logical conclusion.
Jae writes so well, I am constantly amazed that English is not her first language.
A lovely story, well realised and played out to it's logical conclusion.
November 19, 2017
This book killed me. Death by cuteness. Austen and Dee have the perfect office romance which left me with a perma-smile for the rest of the day.
June 24, 2024
A sweet and sexy grumpy/sunshine, hot for boss slow burn! The characters are well fleshed out. Their chemistry is off the charts. The ending was so satisfying! I would love a little novella to accompany these two and see how they are. Definitely recommend!!
(Just saw that there is short story so yay!!)
(Just saw that there is short story so yay!!)
December 8, 2024
SO sweet with all the feels. Great MCs and a nicely constructed story. And, of course, Abby Craden bringing it to life. I loved this 😊
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