IN BED WITH THE BILLIONAIRE ( Nine Circles #5) by Jackie Ashenden-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 1, 2016

A man with everything on the line…
Known to the underworld only as Jericho, billionaire Theo Fitzgerald is one of the most powerful men in the world. But his plan is to tear down the criminal empire his father created from the inside out—unless someone else does it for him. He suspects a bold, seductive woman named Temple Cross might be trying to take him out with it—but for the chance to burn in the heat she gives off, he’s not sure if he minds…

A hired hit woman, Temple has been waiting to get close to Jericho her whole life. The man who destroyed her family is worth looking in the eye before she kills him—but when she’s finally alone with Jericho, he’s nothing like the ruthless barbarian she imagined. Her reaction to his touch is explosively sexual—and their emotional connection is too powerful for her to ignore. Is she his shot at redemption? Or will he have to risk losing her love to save her life?

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REVIEW: IN BED WITH THE BILLIONAIRE is the fifth and final? installment in Jackie Ashenden’s contemporary, adult NINE CIRLES erotic, romantic suspense series focusing on a group of friends ‘bound together by power, secrets, need, family and love’. This is billionaire Theo ‘Jericho’ Fitzgerald, and assassin Temple Cross’s story line. Jericho is the brother of Violet Fitzgerald whom we met in book four-Kidnapped by the Billionaire. IN BED WITH THE BILLIONAIRE can be read as a stand alone but for cohesion and backstory I recommend reading the series in order as much of the premise of the current story line has been building throughout the series. If you have not read the previous story lines there may be some spoilers in my review.

NOTE: IN BED WITH THE BILLIONAIRE contains graphic sexual text and scenes of questionable consent.

Told from several third person perspectives IN BED WITH THE BILLIONAIRE follows hired assassin Temple Cross as she sets out to kill the man –Theo ‘Jericho’ Fitzgerald- she believes destroyed her sister’s life. Jericho is one of the world’s most powerful criminals with his hands in prostitution, nightclubs and human trafficking. Several years earlier Temple’s sister went missing and our heroine believes Jericho sold her sister into human sexual slavery. What ensues are Temple’s attempts to infiltrate Jericho’s personal life, and Jericho’s need to understand what makes our heroine ‘tick’.

As the story line builds we learn that Theo ‘Jericho’ Fitzgerald is a reluctant criminal who hides the truth behind a powerful façade. Temple Cross, like Theo Fitzgerald, has a dark and dangerous past, and her powers as an assassin hide the true intent of what it is she is hoping to uncover.

The relationship between our leading couple is highly sexual. Many of the $ex scenes are graphic, intense and not without some ambiguous consent; arguments and physical fights lead to rough and angry $ex but initial consent is debatable and unclear.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including all of the previous story line couples. The final several chapters in the story reveal some of the back story for each of our couples, as well as their connections to one another and the current story line players coming full circle from beginning to the end.

IN BED WITH THE BILLIONAIRE is an emotional story line with controversial and complex characters. The premise is thrilling and intense; the characters are tragic and broken; the romance is melodramatic and powerful. IN BED WITH THE BILLIONAIRE is a suspense filled, erotic romance with memorable characters and a happily ever after.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy