OFFICE MATE by Katie Ashley-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 2018

Thorn

From the first time I played army as a kid, the military has been my life. As an Airborne Major, I’d led my men through two tours in Afghanistan. But when my father was elected president, I became an even greater target for the enemy—a prize for someone to take out. To ensure not only the safety of myself, but of my men, I got stripped of my cammies, shoved into an Armani suit, and placed into a management position at my father’s company. After years of trekking through the desert with an assault rifle, I was way out of my area of expertise, which my transition coordinator was more than happy to let me know on a daily, if not hourly basis. The brunette bombshell would be the death of me in more ways than one, especially since I hadn’t been with a woman since my last deployment. She’s turning out to be one of the greatest foes I’ve ever done battle with.

Isabel

In the backwoods Georgia town I was born in, you either married right out of high school or got the hell out of town. I chose the second and never looked back. After graduating top in my class, I started working for The Callahan Corporation. Fast forward five years and I was about to become the youngest female manager in the history of my department. And then all the blood, sweat, and tears I’d put into my career were for nothing when the boss’s billionaire son was handed my position on a silver platter. Not only that, I was expected to help transition him into the job that was supposed to be mine. Sure, he’s easy on the eyes with his chiselled good-looks and impossibly built physique, but I’m not going to let that distract me. I hope soldier boy is good at military strategy because sabotage is the name of the game I’ll be playing.

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REVIEW: OFFICE MATE by Katie Ashley is the second instalment in Katie Ashley’s contemporary, adult, erotic romance series focusing on the Callahan siblings. This is thirty-one year old, US Army veteran Thorn Callahan, and twenty-nine year old, financial investor Isabel Flannery’s story line. OFFICE MATE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Thorn and Isabel) OFFICE MATE follows the building romance between thirty-one year old, US Army veteran Thorn Callahan, and twenty-nine year old, financial investor Isabel Flannery. Now that his father was elected the President of the United States, US Army veteran Thorn Callahan has been pulled from active duty in an attempt to keep any potential enemies from targeting our story line hero. What Thorn never expected was to be named Vice-President of his father’s Wall Street investment firm-Callahan Corporation-a position originally intended for someone else. Enter Isabel Flannery, scorned co-worker, and the woman with whom Thorn would fall in love. What ensues is the enemies to lovers relationship between Thorn and Isabel, and the potential fall-out as their relationship goes public, and is in direct confrontation of the corporation’s no fraternization policy among executives.

Isabel Flannery is beyond pissed that the promotion for which she had been groomed was now going to the President’s son-president of the corporation as well as President of the USA. Unable to persuade management that she was entitled to the vice-president position, Isabel begins to sabotage Thorn Callahan, hoping the repercussions would push Thorn out of his current position. Thorn Callahan never thought about leaving the military but when his last mission went all to h*ll, and his father was elected to the highest office in the USA Thorn found himself the new vice-president of Callahan Corporation. But things start to fall apart, rather quickly, including a sudden illness that pulls Thorn from the job at hand.

The relationship between Thorn and Isabel is one of immediate attraction but Thorn’s attraction is tempered by the knowledge that Callahan Corporation has a no fraternization policy. In order to remain distant and aloof, Thorn becomes a demanding a$$hole pushing Isabel to retaliate in return. The $ex scenes are limited but erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The colorful secondary and supporting characters include Thorn’s brother Barrett Callahan and his fiancé Addison (Running Mate #1), as well as their sister Caroline. We are introduced to Thorn’s bodyguard and secret service agent Ty, and Isabel’s roommate Mila. Ty and Caroline’s story line is next in Roommate.

OFFICE MATE is a slow building enemies to lovers/office romance story line. Isabel Flannery’s acts of sabotage were immature and in one instance, dangerous and bordering on assault. In all honesty, Isabel’s behaviour was unethical, and thusly proves she was ill-prepared for the position she did not receive. Insubordination and reprimands were necessary to negate her verbal outbursts but her behind the scenes sabotage were concerning and wrong. There was nothing funny about our heroine’s behaviour, and I struggled with my overall enjoyment due to the nature of the acts. The premise is engaging; the characters were charismatic; the romance is spicy and hot.

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Reviewed by Sandy