Pride, insecurities and betrayal set the stage for a complicated, frustrating and dramatic romance. Without trust there can never be love. Megan and Brandon built a relationship based on lust and confused it with love. When the storm came, their foundation wasn't strong enough to withstand the fall out. Self destructive behavior, misunderstandings and secrets toppled what was thought to be an everlasting love. Will regret and forgiveness offer up a second chance? The Billionaire's Private Scandal had a strong start but the race to the finish line stalled. The constant back and forth, gave me a touch of whiplash. I wish the main characters had worked things out sooner. ( )

I'm going to start my review off a bit different and tell you why I didn't like this book. Well, why I didn't WANT to like it anyway...

1. Miscommunication trope: Yep, the entire plot is a miscommunication. A simple, straightforward conversation could have cleared it all up. By the time they actually have that conversation though, the trust is ruined.


2. Dysfunctional/toxic relationship: What Brandon and Megan have is toxic. She is insecure and isn't honest with him because she is so sure every man will behave exactly like her father. And he does things he things are for her, but really he never bothers to find out anything REAL about her to know if its what she would want. Combine that with the stalking and demanding behavior, and I was left thinking that these two would be better off apart.

Ok, those 2 problems plagued me while I read. But you know what? I read the whole book in 1 sitting because it was like a train wreck. I couldn't NOT see it through. My heart went out to Megan. She was a rich girl with self esteem issues and is now a VERY poor girl, working 2 jobs and barely surviving. Her dad's betrayal stung, and it happened at the same time she caught her boyfriend kissing another girl. I didn't think I would enjoy the 'poor little rich girl' trope, but Megan is genuinely likable. She doesn't hide the fact that she was narcissistic and self centered when she had money. She didn't even graduate high school! So, when the book starts out with her broke, she doesn't sugar coat her previous life. She turns this event into a wake up call for herself on how ill prepared she was. It was actually really empowering.

They eventually get the misunderstanding thing out in the open. But these two have to be the most stubborn, immature characters ever. How Brandon became a billionaire is a mystery to me because he never seems that bright or thoughtful! I understood why Brandon made the decisions he made, and I understand why Megan felt the way she felt. But, I never quite warmed up to Brandon because he seemed to think that because he did what he did for a reason, he should be forgiven now that that reason turns out to be bad. It was frustrating. So, for Megan, the book was 4 stars. For Brandon, the book was 1 star. For the fact I devoured it like pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, the book gets 5 stars. So, I am averaging it: 5 4 1=10/3=3.3 stars! (ok, so 3.5!)

 

• POV: 3rd (another reason this might have been a difficult read; when a story is character driven, I tend to prefer 1st person)


• Tears: I did cry a few times (especially when I learned she had to give up her dog!)


• Trope: miscommunication


• Triggers: none


• Series/Standalone: stand alone


• Cliffhanger: no


• HEA: yes, the end up together; am I happy about it? I'm not sure.

The Bachelor Auction by Rachel Van Dyken, The Mistaken Billionaire by Lexxie Couper,...then you will probably like The Billionaire's Private Scandal!

 


The Billionaire's Private Scandal





See full review on The Book Disciple ( )

Received an ARC for my fair review for netgalley. Let me tell you, that these to should not be together. He is a stalker, and she did have a little growing up to do, to get her life in order, but she was working towards that. However, that said, I did not think that Megan was wrong in leaving Brandon in the dust, first off even if the world did not know that they were together, he did,so him kissing someone else, was not o.k., and his lame excuse, whatever, aaaaand then for him to defend that person over the one he supposedly loves, hell to the no. He would have been left. ( )