Tabs’ review of His Heart’s Revenge (49th Floor, Book 4) by Jenny Holiday
Contemporary Romance published by Entangled: Indulgence 20 Jun 16
My BFF has been not-so-subtly encouraging me to read Jenny Holiday for more than a year. I finally caved and went on an epic binge over Memorial Day weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the 49th Floor books, but I was super excited to see that the fourth book is an m/m romance featuring the cousin of the hero from The Engagement Game. Few things frustrate me more than being introduced to an interesting gay character in a romance and knowing that, unlike every other interesting side character in every romance ever written, there’s no possibility of them getting their own book because f/m is one wheelhouse and LGBT stories are another and never shall the twain mix. (I’ve noticed more authors breaking this mold lately, but it’s not common by any means). So I was just happy that this book merely existed. It having the audacity to be sexy and endearing is a total bonus.
Our two heroes, Cary and Alex, have serious history. Cary cruelly betrayed Alex when they were teenagers and neither is over it. The incident dramatically steered the courses of both of their lives. Cary is still carrying around a ton of guilt. Alex is still monstrously pissed off. They’re both secretly longing for each other. Things finally come to a head when they end up in competition for a powerful investment client.
Alex is your typical domineering angry category romance hero. He’s been holding a grudge for twenty years and is not all ready to give it up any time soon. He’s an arrogant, self-made Bank God and, by golly, everyone should quake in awe of him. Cary’s mere presence gets under his skin, though, and makes him think about things he hasn’t thought about in decades. It makes him long for things he’s decided he can never have and he won’t have it! (Sure, dude. Give it your best shot.) I love watching this type of hero get cut off at the knees by his feelings for his love interest. It gets me every time. Cary is a far more relaxed person than Alex. He’s recently left his uncle’s investment company and set out his own shingle. He’s smart. He’s funny. He’s a likable guy. He’s lonely, though, and you can feel it radiating from him.
Few things tug my heartstrings more than a sincere apology. People are flawed and they make mistakes – especially people who are closeted 15 year olds. Having the fortitude to say “I’m sorry” really means everything. Both characters end up apologizing more than once in this book and I sincerely believed each and every one. They are super satisfying.
There are plenty moments of angst here, but the happy bits? Oh, the happy bits are the best. Even when Cary and Alex are at war and struggling with conflicting dynamics, they can’t help but enjoy making the other laugh or smile. Holiday captures the bits of happiness so well. There are “smiling eyes” and “stupid, unhinged, undignified joy.” I totally swooned, I won’t lie.
I think it’s no surprise to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It ticked a whole bunch of my boxes and did it so well. My BFF is planning on diving into Holiday’s historical series in the coming weeks, so another binge could very well be coming on. Also, if there’s any chance that Holiday would like to write Marcus’ lesbian business partner’s romance, then I just have to say that I would be ecstatic. That is a thing that I would love to scream “Take my money!” at.
Grade: A-
Summary:
Twenty years ago, I was too smart and too poor to be cool. Now I’m laughing my way to the bank—the bank I’m CEO of. Nothing can touch me.
Except maybe him.
We met at summer camp. We made out under the stars. Then he stabbed me in the back.
They say revenge is a dish best served cold. But I’m gonna go with hot.
Alexander Evangelista is a millionaire with all the trappings: houses all over the world and hot guys lined up whenever he’s in need of some no-strings-attached company. He’s on his way to world domination.
A CEO in his own right, Cary Bell is competing for a major client with his boyhood crush. He’s never forgiven himself for betraying Alex. But with his professional reputation on the line, he’s going to have to find his inner cutthroat if he wants his new company to succeed.
Alex isn’t about to let his nemesis steal a client out from under him. It’s time to break Cary’s company—and his heart.
Other books in this series:
