Anything He Wants

 

Summary (from the publisher): First published as a five-part e serial novel, Anything He Wants inflamed imaginations everywhere and became a national bestseller. Now available for the first time ever as a complete book, this edition contains never-before-released scenes and special bonus material. Don’t miss this erotic tale of a powerful billionaire who always gets what he wants and the young woman who’s about to enter his exclusive realm--a world of glittering opulence and all-consuming passion, where she’ll explore the darkest reaches of her own desire.

Lucy Delacourt's temp position isn't quite her dream job but it pays the bills. The highlight of her day is riding the elevator in the mornings with a handsome stranger. Tall, dark, and sexy as hell, Lucy knows he's way out of her league, but a girl can look, right?

Everything changes the day the stranger seduces her. Completely out of character, she yields without a fight, but she has no idea her wanton acts with a man whose name she doesn't know will change her life forever. Because the sexy stranger is none other than Jeremiah Hamilton, billionaire CEO of Hamilton Industries, and one taste isn't nearly enough to satisfy his need. As the billionaire pulls Lucy deeper into his world of high stakes business deals and ruthless takeovers, he demands nothing less than her complete surrender. But even as enemies seek deadly revenge against him, she’ll discover that her greatest threat is falling for her fiercely guarded boss…and yielding to her own darkest needs.

 

Review: I received a copy of this book from Net Galley.

 

While I appreciate receiving a free copy of this book, I cannot recommend it. I suffered through it and ended up finishing it by skimming the last half while watching television. This is yet another example of the Fifty Shades of Grey-like books out there and a particularly egregious example at that. In the book's defense, maybe it's me? Maybe I'm just over this particular formulaic love story/fantasy dynamic, maybe I was never that into it to begin with. Either way, I've had enough.

 

This novel is about Lucy Delacourt, a poor girl who had to drop out of college when her parents were killed and who is working a temp job. (Note: her whole back story had potential and it would have improved the book to see it expanded upon.) The highlight of her day is riding the elevator with the smoking hot man on the way to her desk every morning. Until one morning (when things get rape-y) and she finds herself alone in the elevator with hot stranger. And he abruptly stops the elevator and this exchange happens:

 

...Ok, I can't even type it. It's too horrible. But basically, before ever having had a single conversation he presses his junk all up on her, and goes to town on her. I'm pretty sure the vast majority of women (especially me) would flip out if an unknown man just came up behind me and put his hands all over me. That's just...not acceptable behavior. There are millions of drunken one night stands, probably happening somewhere on the globe right now as I type, that have involved more finesse than this so called sophisticated billionaire.  What's worse, after work, he stalks her in the parking garage, which is where they first officially have sex. So sexy, right? Those parking garages, man. More build up before the main event would have done wonders for both suspense and authenticity of the plot.

 

After this (instead of calling the police), Lucy agrees to become his personal assistant, which includes giving him "anything he wants." They fly to Paris, she is near fatally poisoned, he flies her home and imprisons her in his home while they seek who's responsible, yada yada. I hated it. I think it's time for a different fantasy, ladies of America. I think it's time for some more consensual sex. It just rubbed me the wrong way (no pun intended) that this girl without financial resources or the physical ability to fight him off is basically coerced into this relationship. In Jeremiah's defense, he does try to "resist" her when he's got her basically locked up in his home, but the whole locked up and boss versus employee dynamic sort of makes that point nil.

 

I think with some plot and character development (and seriously, please, less rape-like situations), this book could have some potential. I did like the idea of the personal assistant, and if executed correctly, that could be intriguing. But I am over these bossy billionaires for good.

 

Stars: 1