ONCE UPON A DARE (Risky Business) by Jennifer Bonds-a review

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Release date: April 7, 2015

Advertising guru Olivia Masterson is all work and no play. But on the eve of earning her dream promotion, her best friend dares her to drop her ice queen façade for one night and seduce a sexy stranger. Olivia’s worked her ass off to get where she is—why the hell not?

Cole Bennett never thought he’d run into his feisty one-night stand at the office, furious that he stole her promotion. No matter how hard she tries to ice him out, they can’t seem to keep their hands to themselves…or their clothes on.

Olivia’s talented—maybe even more than Cole—so when his dropped hints to the boss net her a promotion of her own, he’s ready to celebrate…until she accuses him of fueling office rumors that she slept her way to the top. She wants to earn her own way? Fine. So what the hell does a guy have to do to permanently melt an ice queen?

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REVIEW: ONCE UPON A DARE is the latest adult, contemporary romance novel from new author Jennifer Bonds. This is advertising phenom Olivia Masterson and Cole Bennett’s storyline.

Olivia Masterson is an advertising executive with an ‘all work and no play’ attitude, so when her best friend and co-worker Chloe dares her to seduce the beautiful stranger at the bar, Olivia spends a sex filled night with a one night stand-a no strings attached evening in bed with a man name Cole Bennett. Fast forward to Monday morning, where Olivia hopes to be awarded partnership in the advertising firm of Pritchard and Associates, Olivia will come face to face with the agency’s new partner-her one night stand-Cole Bennett. Anger, humiliation and betrayal are only a few of the heartbreaking emotions throwing Olivia into a spiral. Believing she was passed over for a man, Olivia begins work on a plan of her own.

Cole Bennett had no idea the woman with whom he had sex is an executive in the firm of which he is now partner. Her actions and humiliation at the knowledge that she had been passed over for Cole find our hero confused but his attention to and need for Olivia becomes all consuming. Cole wants Olivia in both the bedroom and boardroom, but Olivia knows that sex with the boss will no doubt, in the end, destroy her career and reputation. When a once in a lifetime opportunity presents itself, Cole and Olivia must work together on the latest campaign that will prove that she is more than worthy of partnership material but at what cost will the partnership come?

The relationship between Cole and Olivia is one of immediate attraction. There is plenty of sexual tension between our couple that does not go unnoticed by their fellow employees and coworkers. But Olivia is a feminist at heart, and no matter what Cole does to improve Olivia’s chances at making partnership at work, Olivia sees nothing but Cole’s interference with her upwardly mobile status. There is a distinct feminist ideal running throughout the storyline that finds our heroine butting heads with Cole at every opportunity. The continuous push and pull of the relationship was dizzying. The $ex scenes are sensual, intimate and provocative.

The secondary characters include Olivia’s boss and coworkers, as well as her best friend Chloe. Chloe’s need to find a man for Olivia places all men in direct competition with Cole Bennett who believes that he and Olivia are meant to be. Cole’s sister Anna pushes him to make things right knowing that Olivia is the woman who has stolen her brother’s heart.

ONCE UPON A DARE is an entertaining but oft times frustrating read. Olivia’s need and overwhelming drive to make it on her own was a bit of a distraction at times. Cole’s take charge attitude pushed our heroine one too many times and in this the relationship was a roller coaster of emotions. Olivia and Cole are a passionate couple caught up in an emotional situation.

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy