Overall Grade: B+
Tropes: unrequited love; opposites attract; found family; grump/sunshine; billionaire MMC; rom-com
Gah, I don’t want Annika Martin to ever stop writing grumpy billionaire romances. Seriously. Just when I think she can’t write a different story, she finds one. Now, she has found a formula that seems to work for her: grumpy billionaire plus a heroine who keeps him on his toes, extrapolating his humanity through her erstwhile, independent way. Martin’s newest story, The Grumpy Billionaire, is more of this, and it is sure to put a smile on your face by the end.
To get there, however, her billionaire MMC, Hugo, has to recognize his feelings for her FMC, Stella, and he has to become comfortable acting on them. Thankfully, it doesn’t take him too long to recognize them, but it does take him a while to accept them. Martin has paced out her story well, building a mountain of chemistry between Stella and Hugo. It’s one of my favorite parts of this book. But Stella’s burgeoning understanding of Hugo is the piece de resistance of this book. If you fall in love with anything in The Grumpy Billionaire, it’s the puzzle pieces clicking together that charm your pants off.
I love Annika Martin’s ability to draw characters that are equal parts quirky and spicy. Her capacity to draw a swatch of characters over several books is special. She treats her readers to past beloved characters, and they work together to build a world that readers want to return to over and over again. Stella and Hugo now exist in this universe. We can also add their parents and Stella’s brother to that mix. Honestly, Annika Martin’s world of billionaires makes me remember the days of Fisher Price Little People toys: so many options and potential stories to tell.
If you’re looking for a story that will put a smile on your face, you should grab Annika Martin’s The Grumpy Billionaire today.
In love and romance,
Professor A
Professor Romance 