THE BILLIONAIRE’S VIRGIN (Billionaire Fairytales #1) by Jackie Ashenden-a review

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About the book: Release Date January 10, 2017

Dark, tortured, and intimidating, these dominant billionaires will steal their innocent heroines’ breath away. Overwhelmed by their desire to control their world, they push their heroines to explore their deepest desires. But even the most unworldly of heroines can unlock these billionaires’ secrets.

Xavier De Santis: Disgraced. Ruinous. Playboy.

The headlines are always shouting about Xavier’s various excesses, and he’s everything they say he is. But now he’s gone too far, and the black sheep of the De Santis family has been ordered to clean up his image. Volunteering at a homeless shelter, he sees a bright light amidst all the bleakness. An angel whose luminous face and tragic beauty call to him in ways he can’t explain.

Mia: Vulnerable. Homeless. Virgin.

When the shelter Mia calls home closes, she is left with nowhere to go – nowhere except for the luxurious, glorious palace of a home that Xavier De Santis has invited her to stay. This too-handsome billionaire is dark, dangerous – and also too good to be true. But surely Mia can indulge in her fantasies and escape the drudges of her daily life for just one night?

As one night turns into two, Mia knows that eventually, the magic will end and she will have to return to her life of hardship. She can’t keep the beautiful clothes. She can’t keep the soft bed. And most of all, she can’t keep the hard, handsome, brutal man who makes her crave his touch with every breath she takes. Mia doesn’t belong in his world. But as Xavier tempts his rags-to-riches heroine with exquisite pleasure and heady desire, Mia doesn’t stand a chance but to surrender completely to him.

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REVIEW: THE BILLIONAIRE’S VIRGIN is the first installment in Jackie Ashenden’s contemporary, adult BILLIONAIRE FAIRYTALES romance series. This is billionaire businessman Xavier De Santis, and homeless waif Mia’s story line.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Xavier and Mia) THE BILLIONAIRE’S VIRGIN is a Cinderella-esque romance that follows a homeless young woman name Mia who is rescued by the brooding billionaire businessman Xavier De Santis. Mia has lived on the streets of New York since she was thirteen years old-a victim of domestic violence at the hands of her maternal grandmother -Mia made the decision to risk life on the streets rather than face her abuser on a daily basis. Meeting Xavier De Santis at the local homeless shelter and food kitchen finds our heroine targeted by the billionaire during his volunteer service for attacking a paparazzo and destroying his camera. Xavier’s need to rescue Mia comes from the heart but our heroine doesn’t trust her would-be rescuer. What ensues is the building relationship between Mia and Xavier, and Xavier’s need to give Mia everything she could ever want.

The relationship between Xavier and Mia is slow to build. Xavier bides his time as Mia struggles to accept Xavier and everything he offers. Mia is naïve and innocent, and doesn’t trust easily but soon lets go of her inhibitions as her emotions and feelings towards Xavier begin to bloom. Our heroine is a survivor but broken. Xavier struggles with his place in the De Santis family, and the death of his mother years before. Guilt wars with our story line hero when memories of the past begin to push at his heart and soul. There is a slight spoiled little rich boy persona dogging Xavier De Santis.

We are introduced to Xavier’s brothers: Nero, Raphael, Lorenzo, and their father Cesare De Santis, The fractured family dynamics pushes Xavier in another direction.

I struggled with the lack of character building. We know very little about our leading characters especially as it pertains to Xavier and his earlier life. THE BILLIONAIRE’S VIRGIN focuses on the present and the future leaving very little exploration of the past.

THE BILLIONAIRE’S VIRGIN is a sweet, romantic story about two people who fall in love against the odds. The Cinderella-esque nature of the story has Prince Charming rescuing Cinderella from a life on the streets, driving her home towards a happily ever after. The premise is peaceful without too much outside conflict; the romance is fated.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy