Brutal Bargain

A Standalone Novel (Brutal Billionaires, Book 4)

By: Laurelin Paige

Narrated by: Rose Dioro, Ryan West

Length: 14 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

She needs a husband. He won’t let anyone else have her.

Ax Morgan has played many roles in my life: My brother’s best friend. The most notorious member of the Sebastian News Corp executive team. My enemy with benefits.

But my husband?

No thanks.

Our after hours scenes are simply a convenient way for me to blow off steam while I plot my exit from my toxic family’s company.

But when I need a groom so I can claim my inheritance, he presents me with a choice that’s more like blackmail—marry him, or he’ll sabotage me. So between the devil and the deep blue sea, I let the devil put a ring on it.

Turns out this is the role he plays best of all.

The worst part of pretending with Ax is how real it's starting to feel.

Now my future is in his hands. And if he finds out what I'm planning, he'll be the one with the impossible choice. Who loses everything—his best friend or his fake wife?

©2024 Paige Press, LLC (P)2024 Paige Press, LLC

Ax & Adley so very delicious!

I absolutely loved Adley and Ax’s story in Brutal Bargain by Laurelin Paige. Adley is in need of a husband and Ax is not letting anyone take that role except for him. I truly enjoyed watching Adley and Ax evolve/grow into two people who are perfect for each other. Grandpa Irving plays a direct, funny, and matchmaker hand in Ax and Adley admitting they’re perfect for each other in their own “brutal” way. I most especially loved the times when both Ax and Adley allowed themselves to be vulnerable with each other to begin understanding each other so much more. I was surprised by so many funny, witty, and sweet moments throughout Brutal Bargain by Laurelin Paige. One of my most favorite moments is when Ax stands up and chooses his wife over his best friend. Also, I love all the nicknames that Ax develops for Adley, they are cute and adorable. I can truly say that by the end, which is soo good by BTW, I was so in love with Ax. In true fashion of an alphahole, Ax had changed so much he just made my heart so squishy with love for him. Rose Diorio and Ryan West bring Adley and Ax to life in your ears. They do a great job delivering all the feels to listeners. I really like that Brutal Bargain is told in duet narration. Laurelin Paige writes some of the very best alphaholes and Ax Morgan has earned his way to the top of my list tying with another alphahole (D.K.). If you like billionaires, close proximity, enemies-to-lovers, alphas, alphahole, and my wife genres then I think you’ll like Brutal Bargain whether you read or listen to Ax and Adley’s story.

Loved it!

Great addition to the series. I especially liked that the narrators each spoke their lines regardless of which MC had primary responsibility for narrating the chapter

FANTASTIC

I loved this book and series! Adele and Ax were freaking AWESOME! DEFINITELY A MUST READ OR LISTEN! The narrators are Great! THANK YOU SOO MUCH LAURELIN PAIGE, YOU ARE TOTALLY AMAZING! Get this series! You'll LOVE the Sebastians!!!!

Heart Eyes for Ax!

I love the Sebastians and all of the debouchery that goes on with this family! Ax and Adley's story was of course ultra hot, but Ax's love from Adley shown from the very beginning even when they were play hooking up. The emotions ran deep and when Adley needed a husband there was no one else but Ax for the job and he was going to do what it took to be that guy.

I love the emotions that these story emits. The insecurity and heartache and mistrust and yet it is all eased throughout the story. Adley and Ax both come from families that have less than stellar morals and yet they are stronger for it.

I loved this story and can't wait for the next one! Ms. Paige is setting up Hunter's story to be one to remember!

The narrators did an amazing job bringing these characters to life.

Great narration to go with a great story

I’m loving the Brutal Billionaires Series and for me book #4, Brutal Bargain is the best so far. This is Axel (Ax) Morgan and Adley Sebastian’s steamy, emotional and entertaining journey. We have met Adley in previous books but this is her time to shine and boy can this girl shine. What starts off as a fake marriage so turns into so much more as Ax shows he is capable of a lot more than a pretend relationship …..
Rose Diorio and Ryan West did a great job bringing the characters and their story to life. They were spot on with the passion and the banter.
This book touched me on so many levels, I loved the push and pull dynamic of the relationship, I fell hard and fast for Ax and I want Adley in my corner, the chemistry is hot, the banter is witty but it was the secondary characters that took this book to another level. Brutal Bargain is a great addition to the series as once again Laurelin Paige gives her fans just what they wanted in this well written story.

Another one bites the dust

They are falling like dominoes. Love all the references to the other family members. As always you cannot go wrong with Laurelin Paige! Narrators bang up job!

Loved it all!

I loved this one from start to finish. Narration was good. The push and pull, the banter, the steam! Plus marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes!

Melt your ears off with this hot billionaire romance!

4🌟 3🌶️

Well, here I am again at the end of another Laurelin book, turned on and questioning myself. Questioning myself in the sense that I’m thinking in my head, “was that hot? did I like that and want more of that?”.

The answer to my question for myself, is yes. Yes, it was hot. Yes, I do want more of that. Who knew that roleplaying could be that sexy. NOT ME. But now here I am, and Laurelin did this in such a fun and exhilarating way. Laurelin has a way of making me always think outside of the normal vanilla k!nk box.

Ax and Adly were extremely hot and so compatible for each other. Their story is definitely one I’m going to remember months, years from now.

I also listened to the audio, and holy mother of all things spicy 🥵 Ryan and Rose played these two characters so unbelievably perfect. The audio is duet, which as we know is my fave, and it was so much better getting to experience this playing out so artfully in my mind with the help of their voices.

Highly, highly recommend! Especially if you sexy billionaire romances!

Tropes:
🏙️ billionaire
🌃 brothers best friend
🏙️ roleplaying
🌃 marriage of convenience
🏙️ enemies to lovers
🌃 he falls first

Workplace Romance

It took me some time to get into this Audiobook, but I couldn't stop listening once I did. The banter and chemistry between Adly and Ax were off the charts. The ending was OTT, but I can't wait for Hunter’s story.

Wanna play 🖤

Brutal Bargain, the latest in the Brutal Billionaires series, was a sexy, fun & thrilling read! The chemistry between Adly and Ax is undeniably sexay, leading to some steamy moments.

Adly breaks the mold of a typical Sebastian woman, bringing her own fierce personality to the forefront. Ax, with his charming yet jerkish moments, keeps things interesting.

I loved the way they “role played” themselves into love😍. Plus, Adly’s references to romance tropes in her love life brought a clever layer of self-awareness to the story.

Omg! Grandpa Irving! He adds so much fun to the story and provides some great moments of levity.

I was into Ax & Daly’s role play but it made my ❤️happy when they finally dropped their roles and alter egos, allowing themselves to just be Ax and Adly. That moment of vulnerability was perfect😍

Some of my favorite quotes include:
“Obviously, she’s in delulu land. Maybe that’s the downside of too many 0rg@sms,” —which perfectly captures the humor and playful tone of the book.

I truly love Ax & Hunter’s love & loyalty for each other—, “One day maybe Hunter will have someone that makes him feel the same. That’s the prayer I offer under my breath as I step out of his apartment. Then I close the door behind me and walk toward what lies ahead.” —It leaves a hopeful note for Hunter's future!

If you love stories filled with high stakes, sizzling chemistry, and complex characters, "Brutal Bargain" is definitely worth a read! 🔥📖

#BookReview #BrutalBargain #BrutalBillionaires #RomanceReads #Bookstagram