The Macintyre Brothers #1
Tempt Me
S.E. Lund
I thought my life was all mapped out – marriage to my very ambitious fiancé, a career in business writing and a family.
Then I found my husband-to-be in the middle of more than just dictation with his nubile young 'sexretary' Bunni.
That's Bunni with an 'i' just so we're clear.
Brokenhearted, I swore off men in general and office romances in particular. I escaped to Manhattan with the plan of starting a new life on my own two feet, free of my cheating fiancé.
Despite an initial disastrous encounter with sexy bicycle courier Josh, I couldn't help but admire his buff body, sharp mind and sense of humor. On top of it, he was a real gentleman, offering to help me when my life crumbled around me.
Maybe a crass and meaningless relationship of sex, sex and more sex with his hunky and very buff cyclist body would be good enough. He might not be my own Mr. Big, but a fling with him would sure beat another session with B.O.B.
Then I discovered that the sexy bicycle courier who stole my heart was none other than Joshua Macintyre Jr., one of America's richest bachelors.
Not only that, he's also my boss.
Now, I'm afraid I'm going to break all my rules about office romances…
THE MACINTYRE BROTHERS SERIES:
Five brothers. One hell of a last will and testament. Five couples find their happy ever after.
BOOK ONE: TEMPT ME is the story of Josh and Ella's beginning.
BOOK TWO: TEASE ME continues the story of their growing romance.
BOOK THREE: TAME ME follows the couple as they find their happy ever after.
- Genres Romance Contemporary Amazon Contemporary Romance M F Romance M M Romance Adult
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 20, 2018
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S.E. Lund
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Blurb:
I thought my life was all mapped out – marriage to my very ambitious fiancé, a career in business writing and a family.
Then I found my husband-to-be in the middle of more than just dictation with his nubile young 'sexretary' Bunni.
That's Bunni with an 'i' just so we're clear.
Brokenhearted, I swore off men in general and office romances in particular. I escaped to Manhattan with the plan of starting a new life on my own two feet, free of my cheating fiancé.
Despite an initial disastrous encounter with sexy bicycle courier Josh, I couldn't help but admire his buff body, sharp mind and sense of humor. On top of it, he was a real gentleman, offering to help me when my life crumbled around me.
Maybe a crass and meaningless relationship of sex, sex and more sex with his hunky and very buff cyclist body would be good enough. He might not be my own Mr. Big, but a fling with him would sure beat another session with B.O.B.
Then I discovered that the sexy bicycle courier who stole my heart was none other than Joshua Macintyre Jr., one of America's richest bachelors.
Not only that, he's also my boss.
Now, I'm afraid I'm going to break all my rules about office romances…
THE MACINTYRE BROTHERS SERIES:
Five brothers. One hell of a last will and testament. Five couples find their happy ever after.
BOOK ONE: TEMPT ME is the story of Josh and Ella's beginning.
BOOK TWO: TEASE ME continues the story of their growing romance.
BOOK THREE: TAME ME follows the couple as they find their happy ever after.
The premise was interesting, with five brothers being denied their inheritance unless they got married and had kids. I figured a book a boy. I was wrong; the first three books are about the first son. That'll teach me to check the series. The characters weren't developed enough for me to want to extend beyond one book, and the plot wasn't intriguing or fast-paced enough for me to want to continue to another book. I'll be content with the happily for now ending.
Not a stand alone book.
Contains sex scenes (including frequent masturbation), lots of swear words (mostly the Lord's name in vain and the F word), and no violence.
I loved the synopsis and thought I would give it a try, but I was bored overall and found myself skipping the last 10% of the book. Most of the story was just josh and Ella texting back and forth and bam! Insta love and a epilogue followed by a cliffhanger kind of.... since there is another book
As the first book of The Macintyre Brothers series, this was a good book. Readers are introduced to the five men at the reading of their billionaire father’s will. There they learn of the stipulations he set forth for their futures and it doesn’t include inheriting one-fifth of the fortune, as anticipated. This book focuses on Joshua Macintyre Jr. aka Josh.
I knew that this book was the first of three for Josh, but the author also states no cliffhanger, so I wasn’t sure how it would end. The ending is okay, but it’s stretching to indicate no cliffhanger when there are two more books! The romance story of Ella & Josh in this book is boring. The way they meet is the best part! I don’t need to read about what they do for work or eat on a daily basis. The bits of background for each was okay. Describing the attributes of the characters, a total fail and Josh’s ongoing ways to get Ella to date him come across as desperate rather than encouraging or romantic. Expanding on Ella’s erotica writing seems like a good idea, but it flops as a whole.
I do not recommend this book, free or not, and have no inclination to continue reading the series. This author has plenty of other good books I’ve read and listed in my to be read pile. Choose something else and give her another chance if you’re interested.
Didn’t really enjoy the book.it had me skipping over some things to get to more action. Just being honest. Needs more excitement.
Joshua Macintyre, one of the five Macintyre brothers, also found his fiancée in flagrante. To complicate his life further, his recently-deceased billionaire father stipulated that only upon marrying - and remaining married - the siblings would get their moneyed share of the will. Joshua is also, “incidentally,” the new CEO of his father’s communications empire. And guess who is the new intern…
I don’t expect much innovation from romance novels. It is always a nice surprise when they do offer something new, but it is never a part of my expectations. This novel does not even try to offer a new twist, and there’s nothing wrong with that. There is also nothing necessarily wrong with the lack of character development, the overly predictable plot, or the simplistic prose. These are all things the average romance novel exhibits plentifully. It is clear that the young, practically or literally, virgin ingenue who is inexplicably talented and admired and the handsome, super rich, “whorish” businessman would meet and fall in love. The obstacles would always be on the verge of made-up rather than actual conflicts, the sum total of the relationship will be lust turned instalove and the core of the “love” affair would be that she’s angelic and he’s successful. I appreciate the total lack of attempt this novel makes to break the mold. I do. But that’s where my appreciation ends.
What Tempt Me needs above all is an editor. Not necessarily a good one or even an average one. Just an editor. Every little blip or thought is reiterated ad-nauseam, as if the reader suffers from short-term amnesia and can’t recall what happened in the previous page. And I’m not talking about a casual mention along the lines of “hey, remember this thing happened?” But a full-blown account of the same scenes over and over. It is exponentially more frustrating, then, that there are ridiculous inconsistencies within the novel. Something that is mentioned to happen “next week” several times at the beginning of the novel, never actually happens, only to be illogically postponed two weeks in. Not postponed TO two weeks, the conversation discussing it postponement happens a week after it should have happened. In another instant, Ella packs up her stuff at three o’clock, even though it was “only two thirty and the Ritz-Carlton wasn’t very far away”. Yes. These two happen one sentence after the other. Maybe I’m missing something, like Ella having the ability to control time.
An editor would have also helped with the absurd “text messages” the characters exchange. None of my text conversations have ever been this lengthy. And this articulate. Not one typo, not one abbreviation, not 5 texts in a row that eventually add up to one coherent thought, if not entirely grammatically correct. Which is surprising, considering the novel itself has grammar issues aplenty.
One of the most grating things in the novel (and it has lots) is the references to Sex and the City and Mr. Big. Why is it so grating? Because Ella keeps mentioning Mr. Big as a her ideal for casual sex. Let’s repeat that - her ideal for CASUAL SEX. Ummm...that’s...that’s not what he was to Carrie. Like, ever. A supposed die-hard SatC fan, like Ella, should know this. Are we supposed to act surprised that this idi..ahem, heroine, despite claiming she wants casual, no-strings attached sex, decides at the end of the novel that casual isn’t her thing?
I will not elaborate on other things that annoyed me in this novel (like the paper-thin characters, the creeptastic hero, the cringe-inducing overuse of the word bestie from the mouths of supposed adults, or the questionable working hours and conditions), but I will say this - a novel that focuses on the publishing industry, particularly editing, and has a heroine that supposedly writes well really calls attention to any flaws in editing and prose. Writers should approach with care.
Not a really great first impression of Josh when he talks about how much he wants to sleep with Ella after she initially leaves his apartment. He seems determined to get her into his bed which can really be construed as him being a bit forceful? He’s a bit up and down too - one minute he says he wants something more to happen between them (which seems a bit quick) and then on the other hand he says he isn’t going to make the same mistake with a woman again... so which is it?
It was a bit strange that Ella was so shy about talking and meeting with Josh but then when she meets him for dinner at the Italian restaurant she’s hounding him with random questions, so abruptly and aggressively. I’m confused as to what angle the author is trying to portray her from.
The inserts of the text message conversations between Ella and Steph didn’t add much to the enrichment of the story and seemed to take up space and detail which could have been accomplished in one sentence.
The most important part - of their relationship (fulfilling her story) was rushed and a bit awkward. That scene should have been its own chapter or at least a bit longer than 2-3 pages.
Ella is so upside down - she’s either super into getting involved with Josh but 2 seconds later she’s saying they shouldn’t do an “office romance.” There is a lack of character development and plot here.
Overall, the book was unorganized, there was really a lack of character development and a build of relationship between the characters. Sometimes the timeline was off and I didn’t feel so invested in the characters or the impending union.
Four brothers go to the reading of their father's will expecting an even split, but their father has other plans for them. This book is about the oldest of the four who has taken over the family publishing business, plus he has purchased and is trying to resurrect the failing newspaper that he bought. The lady he has hired to help him staff his new venture listens to him bemoan the terms of his father's will and then offers to help him find a wife. Joshua decides why not as he didn't do very well in that aspect on his own.
"Tempt Me" is about how Joshua and Emma meet in New York with a touch of mistaken identity at first and then an interesting bumpy road along the way to what may be the start of a very happy solution to both of their situations. Learn the answers to what happens when Emma finds out that Joshua is technically her boss and will Josh really marry someone the headhunter finds or will he follow his heart again? This book was fun to read and I am really looking forward to stories involving the other brothers and also, hopefully Emma's best friend.
This series is about the five Macintyre brothers, who are faced with an unusual task to inherit their late fathers fortune: get married and start a family.
The first book features Josh, the CEO of the company his late father ran. He’s been cheated on by his fiancée and can’t think of anything he’d like less than finding a wife.
Ella is in the same situation: three weeks before she was due to marry, she found her fiancé ‘boinking’ (who says that?) his secretary. She leaves New Hampshire for New York to start again and literally bumps into Josh, knocking him off his bike.
After this meet-cute, they skirt around each other, wanting to get involved but fighting shy due to past hurts. Josh seems to get over his hang-ups quicker than Ella and pursues her relentlessly, realising just how much he wants her.
Ella’s more cautious and second-guesses herself constantly. Can she ever put her past behind her and move on?
This is a cute, well written romance and a great start to the series. I look forward to reading all about the other Macintyre brothers too.
Great story but wasn't expecting it to end in a cliffhangers way, so only 4.5 stars. Love the story so far and the characters are really great. I could be happy for the story to end as it does but as there are two more books with just their story I feel like it is still a cliffhanger. I would rather read the story of one of the brothers and get updates on them then to have to keep getting new books just for them and knowing brothers stories will probably be the same. The story could've been longer instead of making three books just for one story. I feel authors are just trying to get more money by doing this and it's getting old. I'd rather pay more for the whole story then have to pay for three installments, wait for next part to come it, and then if I want to reread them search for three different books to do so. Takes the enjoyment out of it when you have to stop and do all that for one story when it's unnecessary. So it is saying something for author that I rated so high!
Score: 3/5
POV: Dual
Heat Level: 🔥🔥
Tropes: Millionaire; marriage for inheritance; insta-love; cliff hanger; FMC erotica writer; boss/employee (sort of); age gap; mistaken identity
Average. This might be one of the most average romances I’ve ever read. I was engaged enough to not DNF but I will literally never pick this book up again nor will I read the part 2/second book because I just truly don’t care. The MMC wasn’t obsessed in the sense of what you think of in an alpha because he was very not alpha. But he was extremely persistent with the FMC and it was getting annoying. In real life, if he was just some average guy, he would have trouble getting girls if he was that persistent. Like take a hint dude. I feel like his persistence only worked because he’s supposed to be somewhere between 30-35 and she’s like 22 so she just fell for it. Anyways just another book to finally check off read on my tbr lol.
3/5
The first two main characters in this new S.E.Lund series are fantastic! What's not to like about a bike riding, gorgeous, sexy, successful, funny and persistent (almost) billionaire? Josh ticks all the boxes. Ella has yet to find her footing but she is beautiful, thoughtful, smart , a bit naive and ethical. She's a woman who would do a bike messenger but not the CEO of her company, that would be crossing lines. They both are self proclaimed "anti-marriage " advocates because of cheating ex fiances. Despite their avowals to the contrary they both find something in each other that speaks to their hearts.
We are introduced to all the Macintyre brothers in this book and I can't wait to read each one of their stories. The series" premise is intriguing and I am sure will provide incredible reading entertainment.
Then there is a side story about him inheriting a bunch of money from his dad- but only if he gets married and has babies. He is not entitled to any inheritance until his first anniversary of wedding and first anniversary of his child's birth. He wants money to start up a company - he hires a lady to find him a suitable wife, in comes the new assistant who changes his mind and he wants to fall in love for real not just for money. Blah Blah.
More sexy time and happily ever after.
I'm a little curious how this is a series - maybe because this guy has four other brothers that were mentioned in a book that were also going to inherit money but only upon marriage and children. I'm not sure if I will read more, but it was a decent stand alone book.
Writing style of this is a slow burn, slight age gap, millionaire boss romance.
Sweetly built with points taken from Sex in the City, many references to it as well spun in a Rom-com style.
Both of their last relationships had ended with heartbroken cheating from their exes prior to their respective wedding days. With that at heart, Ella was more standoffish than him; her shortness with Josh wasn't a favorite of mine.
Josh on the other hand went in with his heart, even with his father's last will and testament of receiving 25 million for marriage and each year thereafter.
Ends in cliffhanger into Tease Me. Was surprised, this could have easily been o e book, not sure what is going to be dragged out of a series with these two besides a continuous of slow burn.
Ella has recently moved to Manhattan after finding her fiancée with another woman. Joshua is her boss’s boss and is dealing with the recent death of his father.
Both have been burned by their fiancée’s, so they decide just to have sex, but David wants more and continually pursues Ella.
This is Part I of the story, as it is a trilogy. It does end in a slight cliffhanger and we will have to wait until November, for Tease Me, to continue their story. I look forward to see where the story goes.
I was gifted an ARC by the author for an honest review.
This is not a standalone, it is 1 of 3 books and I really think it could have been condensed into 1 book.
Josh is 1 of 5 brothers, so if each brother has 3 books - oh no !
Josh is the eldest son, one of 5 whose billionaire dad has died. Instead of dividing his estate between all his children, his dad stipulated that the only way they could any money, is if they got married.
It started off quite good, but it dragged on and when you’re near the end and realise there are potentially another two books about the same couple - I lost heart.
As always, read yourself and make your own mind up.
The story is great! The characters believable and loveable. This new series looks promising!
There was one thing about the book that I didn’t enjoy and it was the dialogue. It’s didn’t seem real to me. It’s not the way I’d talk to people in real life. Certain aspects of it were redundant too. The story is great!! I loved that two people meet after having bad experiences in life and know that this one is the real deal.
Of all of the scenarios this story could have gone with, the writer chose to “take the lazy way out”, in my opinion. Not very creative and almost boring. Too much repetitive, unnecessary descriptions of decor, etc. The grammar errors are atrocious! Also, please try not to forget your characters names. Kevin/Keith!? Again, lazy. Unfortunately this story did not leave me wanting more so I will not be reading the any more of the series.
Overall a good quick read.
The story itself was intriguing, but Josh’s character started to annoy the hell out of me. The way he was obsessively texting or contacting Ella in some way, he was borderline stalkerish, and if a guy was that way towards me, I’d probably freak out. Had he not been attractive and rich, Ella probably would’ve gotten a restraining order. I feel as though there were some unresolved issues as well…like, did she ever get money to pay anyone back?