Careless Whispers by Synithia Williams

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Ever since reading Forbidden Promises I knew I needed Elaina's story next. She basically stole the show in that story as she and Grant went back and forth and we saw a glimpse into her relationship with Alex. While each book in the Jackson Falls series stands on it's own because it's a family saga the characters appear across books and you get pieces of their stories.

Elaina is a smart and savvy business woman with a reputation for being no nonsense and more than a little brash. The family business, Robidoux Holdings is her life and she's fighting her father, Grant for that CEO position. Alex, who works in Research and Development is her workplace nemesis. They've been struggling to get along in the workplace for months. After a misunderstand over a cancelled meeting and a very public outburst Elaina ends up fired and Alex is chosen as her temporary replacement. 

Elaina's ice queen persona isn't all there is to her. Underneath is a very vulnerable woman who has grown up under her parent's thumb. They drilled into her head business before all else and strong-armed her into a loveless marriage. Everyone in the family is so used to Elaina being the cold one they don't even try to see past it anymore. But she's had to be the strong and in charge one while her younger sister India was able to escape and run off and live away from the family. Granted some of her past blowups have played a role in that. And she hasn't had the best relationship with her India since she married Elaina's ex husband, Travis. Daddy Grant is still trying to pull the strings even after her firing by sabotaging her attempts to establish clients for her new business venture.

When the two meet up again neither can deny the chemistry between them. Exclusive hook ups sounds like a plan and Alex is eager for whatever Elaina offers him. And the more time that Elaina spends with Alex the more her guard comes down. 

Alex had a heart attack a few years prior so he's all about taking things slow now. Professionally he has no interest in being CEO and is not taking his new role well. Grant may be grooming him to be his replacement to get back at his daughter but he sees right through the games. Elaina is busy severing her ties to her father by moving off the family estate and establishing her own business alongside her sister-in-law Zoe. 

Family plays such a big role in this story not only on Elaina's side but also on Alex's as he and his father consider doing business with her. I liked that both had their family members so heavily involved in their daily life from siblings to parents. There's this really sweet scene in the story where she takes Alex to her private hideaway and she introduces him to her ancestors and asks them to bless their relationship. Alex's family has a less animus relationship than Zoe's so he's able to be her sounding board when it comes to reconciling everything she's learned about relationships. 

I loved Elaina! I didn't mind that's she's a bit of a bitch. She owns it and she gets things done. And I don't always need my romance heroines to be super saccharine. Alex was the sweet laid back one willing to take care of her and show her she's worthy of love. I can't wait to see what comes next in the Jackson Falls series. It's now a must read series for me.