The Charmer

Biotech Billionaires, Book 3

By: Ava Rani

Narrated by: Vikas Adam, Rebecca Yeo

When a charming billionaire and a reclusive lawyer tie the knot to outsmart an inheritance scheme, sparks fly and unexpected love blossoms in this sizzling romance from Ava Rani, author of The Spare and The Heir.

Sometimes love outsmarts the best laid plans.

Penelope Chen-Astor ran away from the stifling expectations of her wealthy family in Singapore for an independent life as a high-powered Manhattan lawyer. But familial duty comes crashing back when her grandfather’s will demands she be married for a year to claim her inheritance. She’d walk away from it all, but her mother’s assets are at stake too, and this is the only way Penelope can see to protect her.

Enter Xander Sutton, the billionaire co-founder of investment group Dawn Capital. With his effortless charm and easy smiles, he’s used to winning hearts, but Penelope’s always proven immune to him. When she’s backed into a corner and asks Xander to masquerade as her husband for a year, he sees a golden opportunity to finally win over the only person who’s kept him at arm’s length—but the closer they get, the harder it becomes to play pretend.

What begins as a strictly business arrangement quickly spirals into steamy encounters and genuine emotions. When meddling relatives, corporate espionage, and high-stakes legal battles come into play, Xander and Penelope will have to decide if the inheritance is all they stand to lose when the year is done...

From the bustling streets of Manhattan to the serene beaches of the Hamptons and the skyscrapers of Singapore, The Charmer is the third and final novel in the Biotech Billionaires universe.

©2025 Ava Rani (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers

Great conclusion to the trilogy

Penelope Chen is the heir to a Singaporean family wealth, and she has been betrothed to someone she grew up with for years. Building a career and life in New York was a way to live her life to the fullest before Duty called, but when it actually comes knocking and her mother's livelihood and comfort are contingent on her marriage, her hand is being forced.
Xander Sutton is the happy-go-lucky charismatic guy who seems to always have it together on the outside but feels misplaced and broken on the inside. Penelope has always intrigued him, so when the opportunity to pretend to be her fiancé arises, he plays into it. And when it turns out that actually marrying each other will save Pen from her betrothal, he says yes.
Entering a marriage of convenience was never part of his plan, but if it's the only way to keep her, he'll take it.
After they marry, they encounter a number of hurdles together, but it only brings them closer, and the attraction they feel for each other only grows until they can't fight it anymore and give in. They choose each other through all the turmoil and Ioved seeing both of them drop their defenses and give into their hearts.
Vikas and Rebecca were wonderful on this title, embodying these characters and bringing all their complexities to life. What a fun, rewarding way to finish this series!