The survivor of a high school sabotage that made her flee her hometown at sixteen, Hayden Tate is no stranger to bullying. Now she has returned to Lake Tahoe to take on her dream job with a degree and a backbone. But her newfound strength is pushed to the limit as she fights to hold her own against the old boys club of Blue Casino.
Adam Cade is the prince of Lake Tahoe, born into one of the wealthiest families in the area. He’s used to doing what he wants when he wants. So when his powerful father threatens to cut him off without a dime unless he uses his Ivy League degree for a job his father got him at Blue Casino, Adam capitulates. Hayden, the head of HR, hates Adam on the spot, finding every way possible to put him in his place—and suddenly the lackey job his father found him gets interesting. Adam’s life of leisure lacks substance, and even though he’s not willing to give it up, he wouldn’t mind the distraction Hayden presents.
But when the casino’s sinister inner workings begin to reveal themselves and Adam is caught between the powerful executives he works for and the lovely Hayden, his loyalties are divided. Blue Casino offers Adam a lucrative career where he wouldn’t need his father’s money for the lifestyle he’s accustomed to, but at what cost? Hayden’s silly side shines through when Adam least expects it, charming his jaded heart, and forcing him to face a morality he never knew he had. For the first time in Adam’s life he finds himself yearning for something real, but will he risk losing everything to have it?
Elizabeth's Review
4 Stars - Would Recommend to a Friend
Review Copy Provided by Author
Jules Barnard is an author who has been lurking on my TBR for a while and after reading New Blue, I am kicking myself for not reading her work sooner.
In New Blue we meet Hayden and Adam. She is the HR director at a casino and has run up against a huge good ole boys network that she knows is up to something. Adam is the newly promoted director of hospitality who appears willing to go along to get along.
The sparks fly between these two almost right away and I enjoyed how their early interactions were written. At first it was hard to tell if the sparks were attraction or animosity. Watching them together was interesting, especially once they started to thaw toward each other and Adam realized that Hayden was really someone from his past (you have to read it to get more info on that!).
The element of suspense/conflict woven into the story added an edge to a sweet romance unfolding between Hayden and Adam. Their history, both separate and shared, added another dynamic layer to how things were going. I definitely appreciated how Adam was much more than Hayden initially expected.
This book is the finale of a series and while it's obvious that members of the supporting cast have stories to tell, those stories don't over power that of Adam and Hayden, making it a great stand alone edition.
About Jules Barnard
Before turning to storytelling, Jules earned a master’s degree in public health and spent many an hour running statistical analysis–until she realized her favorite part of the job was writing reports. She decided to cut out the math and add in some hot guys, and so began her career as a novelist.
Jules is a Northern California native living on the coast with her husband and two children. She has no impulse control around cupcakes and credits herself with the ability to read while running on the treadmill or burning dinner.
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