THE UNDERCOVER BILLIONAIRE (The Tate Brothers #3) by Jackie Ashenden-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 27,2018

The Tate Brothers were raised to protect what is theirs…

Navy SEAL Wolf Tate is on a mission of vengeance. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to infiltrate the lair of his arms-dealing enemy—and rescue the mother he never knew. To do this, he’ll need more than his father’s fortunes or his brothers-in-arms. He must find a way to kidnap his enemy’s daughter for leverage. There’s just one problem: She is also one of Wolf’s closest friends—and the only woman he’s ever loved…

For years, Olivia de Santis has been waiting for Wolf to take her in his arms and make her dreams come true. But she never imagined that he’d sneak into her bedroom one night…and take her as his hostage. Olivia knows she should resist him—and stay loyal to her own family. But how can she deny the burning justice of Wolf’s mission, and the blazing desire in his eyes—even if giving into the heat of the moment can put her in grave danger?

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REVIEW: THE UNDERCOVER BILLIONAIRE is the third ( and final) instalment in Jackie Ashenden’s contemporary, adult THE TATE BROTHERS romantic suspense series focusing on three foster brothers-Sullivan (Van), Wolf and Lucas Tate-as well as their foster sister Chloe Tate. This is thirty-year old Navy SEAL Wolf Tate, and twenty-eight year old heiress Olivia de Santis’s story line. THE UNDERCOVER BILLIONAIRE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary although I recommend reading the series in order for cohesion and backstory.

SOME BACKGROUND: In the aftermath of their adoptive father Noah Tate’s death, Van, Wolf and Lucas Tate are called home from active duty to find themselves the recipients of three letters outlining what the future has in store-letters from the grave asking each son for a final favor. There is a dark history between father and sons, marred by secrets and lies, and a father ill-equipped to look after the family he chose to raise.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Olivia and Wolf) THE UNDERCOVER BILLIONAIRE follows the acrimonious and heart breaking friendship between Navy SEAL Wolf Tate, and oil heiress Olivia de Santis. For close to thirteen years, Olivia believed Wolf Tate to be her only friend but her recent abduction by the man in question reveals the painful truth about their relationship and her father’s thirty-year war with Wolf Tate’s father. Wolf has been on a mission to ferret out the truth about the man who raised him as his own and his connection to Cesare de Santis only to realize that everything he believed to be true was closer to a lie. What ensues is the back and forth, caustic relationship between Olivia and Wolf, and the potential fall-out when Wolf refuses to back down from a mission that was going to h*ll.

The relationship between Olivia and Wolf is angry and antagonistic. For close to 13 years Wolf faked his friendship with Olivia de Santis, a friendship our heroine believed to be pure and true. Wolf’s revelation all but destroys our story line heroine, a woman who will give Wolf everything and more. The sex scenes are intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text but I struggled to feel any palpable sexual attraction due in part to Wolf’s cold reactions and continuous rejection of our story line heroine.

Throughout the story Wolf Tate slowly destroys our heroine’s heart. Olivia is an innocent, in more ways than one, but has become nothing more than a pawn in her father’s war against Noah Tate, a war that all but destroyed the boys Noah raised as his own. Wolf, desperate for the love of a family, will do almost anything to reveal the truth, a truth that will destroy his relationship with the woman with whom he will fall in love.

THE UNDERCOVER BILLIONAIRE is a story about vengeance and betrayal; deceit and family; power and control. The premise is a story of desolation and dejection; the romance suffers with one man’s lies and deception; the characters are broken, naïve and desperate. I did struggle with the believability and elaborate ruse of some of the story line and series premise including some important information that Olivia was able to find within ten minutes that our hero could not find for close to thirty years.

Reading Order and previous reviews
The Dangerous Billionaire
The Wicked Billionaire
The Undercover Billionaire

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy