Cal & Daphne's story starts off promising, but it soon becomes drawn out and hard to keep focused. I enjoyed the spark between Cal & daphne. Also seeing daphne start to realize who she is and what she is capable of.

Tropes:
Forbidden
Age Gap
Dad's Best Friend
Second Chance
Billionaire
One Night Stand

I felt way too many emotions in this book, but it was balanced out that kept me reading the book. The tension of waiting for them to cross the line was amazing. Did I find myself screaming at the book to just give in? Yes I did. Did I stay up too late to finish this book? Yes I did.

Billionaire workplace romances were my first tropes I started reading and was very happy to read this book. It reminded me why I love these types of books. Cal is a dream book boyfriend and Daphne is a strong female who never gave up.

The only advice to readers is to look at the triggers warnings before reading this book. For me I don't have trigger warnings, but from some moments of the book readers may struggle.

Thank you so much for the early copy, NetGalley. I sadly couldn’t finish the book and so decided to DNF. It just wasn’t for me on this occasion but I’m certain it will be for others!

I really liked this book. It's a father's best friend romance so also a bit forbidden and obviously age gap. All the tropes I love in a book. There's also a bit intrigue, family business and a bad ex husband who wants to ruin her name. It was an easy read.
I absolutely loved their chemistry together and how they already had a thing going on years before the ended up together.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As much as I wanted to stay immersed, the writing didn’t quite hold me. The dialogue often felt like a dress rehearsal for a courtroom drama — overly polished, oddly formal, and heavy on the name-dropping.

The political content also pulled me out. Not because it wasn’t well-intentioned — it clearly was — but because I personally read fiction to slip out of the headlines, not back into them. That said, the author doesn’t hide her agenda, so fair play there.

While it wasn’t a match for my tastes, readers who enjoy structured prose and characters who speak like they’re always five minutes away from a press conference might find it a better fit.

Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC!
I feel this book had a lot of potential but it sort of fell flat for me.
Daphne seemed like she was supposed to be this well fleshed out character but I just couldn’t connect with her. The abuse seemed slightly out of place and a bit more nonchalant in the grand scheme of things.
The storyline was sometimes difficult to follow because of the time jumps. This may be what made it difficult to connect to the story for me.
This does have a bunch of loved tropes like father’s best friend and age gap romance.
While the romance and spice was good, the overall story just wasn’t for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Tropes: age gap, dad’s best friend, workplace tension, forbidden romance
Content warnings: domestic abuse (not involving the main couple), infertility, parental death, cheating (side characters), emotionally manipulative exes

From the very beginning, this book had me hooked. There’s something about the “forbidden but magnetic” vibe between two adults who know they shouldn’t cross that line, and yet... here we are, falling right along with them.

This story isn't just about a taboo connection — it's about two people dealing with grief, trauma, and self-worth in very different ways. The emotional weight was real, and I appreciated how Maude Winters didn’t shy away from tough topics. It felt raw, honest, and unfiltered.

Cal? Total dream. The kind of man who not only listens, but hears you. He gave Daphne space when she needed it, showed up when it mattered most, and never once tried to control or “fix” her. The way he handled intimacy and consent? Effortless and respectful. That should be the bare minimum, but damn did it make him stand out.

Daphne, on the other hand, went through it — and yet never lost her voice. She was tired, hurt, and guarded, but still kept pushing forward. Her journey felt very real to me. She didn’t need saving — she needed someone who saw her fully. And Cal did that.

The emotional tension between them was intense, but balanced by quiet, tender moments. I loved how they supported each other without codependency, how the heat never overtook the heart of the story.

My only issue? The ending wrapped up too neatly for me. After everything they endured, I wanted a bit more time basking in their happiness — just one more chapter, one more glimpse into their future. It was a satisfying HEA, but I would've devoured a longer one.

Still, I adored this book. It gave me all the feels — longing, heartbreak, healing, and so much tenderness. If you're a fan of forbidden romance done right, this one definitely delivers.

Would I read more about these characters? Absolutely. I’d follow them into a boring, everyday domestic sequel in a heartbeat.

Highly recommend if you're looking for a romance that digs deep, respects its characters, and makes you believe in the slow rebuilding of trust and love.

Thanks to palas publishing and NetGalley for this arc. I’m a sucker for the age gap, dad’s best friend trope. There is something so seductive and wrong about it lol. This book is super spicy but also has a great plot.

Executive Decision had a plot that kept me interested, and I really appreciated Daphne’s journey — the way she lost herself and slowly found her footing again was compelling. I also enjoyed the age gap dynamic between her and Cal. That trope worked well here, and I liked how Cal was always trying to lift her up.

But overall, the writing style just didn’t work for me. The dialogue felt too formal, and the characters used each other’s names so much it started to feel unnatural and repetitive. While I was never bored, I did find myself struggling to stay connected at times because of how the story was written.

The political discussions were another downside for me. I read to escape real-world issues, and the politics pulled me out of the story. That’s more of a personal preference, though — the author is upfront about writing politically driven stories, so I can’t really fault her for that.

In the end, it wasn’t a great fit for me and I think it needs another round of editing due to grammatical errors, but I think readers who enjoy political themes and more structured dialogue might get more out of it.

Executive Decision by Maude Winters is a bold and captivating romance that blends high-stakes passion with an engaging, character-driven narrative. While the genre is rich with similar storylines, Winters distinguishes her novel through a distinctive voice, well-developed characters, and a plot that offers more than just heat—it delivers genuine emotional investment.

From the first chapter, the chemistry between the leads is electric, making the novel undeniably “spicy,” yet the sensuality never overshadows the depth of the story itself. Winters strikes a compelling balance between romance and plot, ensuring that the emotional stakes remain as high as the physical ones. The pacing is brisk, making it easy to get swept up in the tension, both romantic and otherwise, and difficult to put down once the story is underway.

What truly sets Executive Decision apart is its originality within a familiar framework. The narrative introduces unexpected elements and fresh dynamics that make it stand out in a crowded genre. With its compelling storyline and addictive energy, this book not only satisfies but also leaves readers eager for the next installment. It’s a promising start to a series that clearly has more to offer.

I overall enjoyed this book. Sometimes I thought it went by slow and sometimes it went fast. I really liked the start at the wedding and then years later. I align with this book politically so I really enjoyed that aspect. Always love a HEA

I'm a big fan of age gap and billionaire romances, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. I'll be honest, I struggled a bit with this book. Don't get me wrong, I read it in 2 days because I was intrigued with the plot, but the writing style just felt 'off' to me. In Part 1, I found myself going back to make sure I didn't miss a whole page of reading since the topic would change in a conversation without warning or any sort of logical transition. I mean, I'm known to switch topics in a conversation since I have ADHD, but this wasn't the same. It was like two different plots were being written in the same pages, so it was extremely hard to follow (and I see I'm not alone in that). The writing did improve after Part 1 though, so keep going.

Also, the dialogue itself was a bit odd given Daphne was 20-something in the beginning and then was still in her 30s the last 3/4 of the book. Who in modern age says 'cannot' every time and not 'can't' in casual convos?I have to assume that since her mom was a 'Lady' from England that she was simply raised on 'proper English' that you'd come to expect if you were listening to rich English aristocrats speak. It made her seem pretentious, in my opinion and not someone relatable. Her siblings seem to converse like normal modern day Americans under 50, so she was the only anomaly with her hate for contractions and her need to use words that are not part of everyday vocabulary (I think she used 'infantile' 3x in one part).

I really liked Cal. He was older and her father's best friend. But he wasn't so old that to me their relationship seemed odd. I liked that he was always trying to build her up when others tore her down, including her abusive ex. What I didn't like was how he chose to ignore or keep her as a dirty secret for so long. I'm not a fan of politics and don't typically read books that have politicians for this very reason. There's just so much fakeness that they have to portray in public in order to be seen as likable and it lessens their authenticity.

Daphne came off as a strong and independent woman in the beginning. Then she married a douche and he really did a number on her confidence. She did a total 180 after Part 1 in this book and became meek. I'm glad she found herself again (through the help of Cal) and learned to defend herself. This book had some tough moments in it that broke my heart, that's for sure. I admire her courage to stand up for what was right and not let a bully take her down.

The ending was cute, but I would have liked to have seen an epilogue that was further into the future. They go from secretly dating for a short time to only being out in public for a short while before he proposes. And the book ends with that. I feel like I needed more to truly believe in their HEA.

While this book wasn't for me, for those who love political romances, you'll likely enjoy this one. Be sure to check out the trigger warnings though since there are some not so pleasant parts included.

This book was really really good. Spicy when it needed to be funny when it needed to be and sad when it needed to be. Overall it was really good read and I will read it over again when I want a good book to just read and sigh about. Good story line and plot! I cheered Cal and Daphne on and wanted them to make it! I got pissed a few times too! That's what makes me like books. You get angry and happy in the same book! I really liked it a lot! I highly recommend it!

This was my first book by this author, and it won't be my last! Daphne Dalphine is such a strong fmc, and I loved how bossy and straight up she was. Being a woman in a man's field is tough, and she showed us readers that she has a spine of steel. I loved how outspoken she was, and even though she was a nepo baby, she worked just as hard as everyone else (maybe except her brother, haha.) I liked reading about a fmc that wasn't ready for kids at that time. She loved working, and I really appreciated having this aspect in the book, as many female readers are also in the same boat. She constantly had to prove her worth and fight her own battles in the present (time of the book), yet not once did she make excuses, and not once did she give up, and I LOVED her for that. Women work so hard to prove themselves in the workplace, especially in a man's field. We don't get to cry in public; we save that for ourselves. We don't get to throw a pity party, we put our heads down and we work. I loved seeing this kind of representation.

Cal Markham, Daphne's father's best friend and a billionaire mayor, he STAYS winning. I loved how work-driven and passionate both characters were, but I also loved how Cal always wanted Daphne to shine. A billionaire, mayor who does the dishes......SIGN ME UP! Cal was very supportive of Daphne and through everything that happened, he was there when she was picking up the pieces of her life that literally blew up, and he was there to help remind her how important it is to love yourself.

Read if you like:
-Father’s best friend
-Age gap
-Billionaire romance
-Second chance
-Forbidden love
-Family dynasty drama
-One-night stand / past fling
-Scandal

Thank you netgalley for this arc.

Very promising storyline and plot, but the execution was a little confusing to follow.
Nonetheless an engaging story, and it’s always good to discover new authors

Cute, nice story but hard to follow at times and I got annoyed with the main female character all the time!

5 ⭐️ 2🌶️ I devoured this book! It typically takes me a week to finish a book, I slammed this down within about 26 hours! What a way to start off a new series, and I can't wait for the others to follow! I love the in depth back story we got on these two and I really feel it was needed with how much went into this story; a simple prologue would not have been enough.

Daphne is such a strong woman coming out of a very toxic and abusive relationship while dealing with the death of her father and his legacy potentially going under. She had a lot on her plate and the way Cal supported her and always made her feel worthy and loved was so heartwarming. I love these two together so much! I can't wait for her brother Davey's story, but I have a feeling he may close out the series after we see some more character growth from him in the upcoming books.

A good way to start a new series. Look forward to see where we go from here. Looking forward to Davey's story.

Tell me why I literally just ate this whole book up - one sitting, no breaks. I mean this book had me hooked on the tropes list alone:

Age gap
Father’s best friend
Billionaire romance
Second chance
Forbidden love
Political intrigue
Family dynasty drama
One-night stand / past fling
Scandal

It was a solid high-stakes mafia romance that had me staying up all night to finish it. It had emotional depth, and the characters had personality. I loved that the FMC was actually such a bad ass, which is hard to come by in a mafia setting. I also enjoyed that their dynamic was equal and came across as genuine. I would 100% recommend this book to friends - can't wait for the next installment!

📖 / 4.5⭐️

Thank you to Palas Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
#ExecDecision #NetGalley.

this book had me taken over by far more feelings than i was ready for. it was just so good. the dynamics between all the characters was spot on and so deep. the family ties, the romance ties, the tension and ups and downs were all so real and hard hitting in both good and bad ways.
Daphne went through so much it wasnt fair. but she was such a strong bad ass she held her head up high and carried on. well, when she could. because that doesnt mean what happened wasnt hurting. and you know what that needs. well it needs someone like Cal. because he was one swooooooooooooooooooooon character. he was good in all the nicest of way. he protected her, he cared for her and he showed her more importantly that she could love herself.
the connection between the two of them was just gorgeous. and i wouldnt be ok until i found out the ending for them both. i fell in love with these two. it didnt feel forced or like they were playing the role within the romance. it felt true. it felt real. an equal and balanced pair. i really appreciate it wasnt some overacting spice. i get it, people like that right now in some novels. but this never felt the place for these two. it was slow and kind and tender between them. it was full of consent and boundaries. but that added to the phwaor rather than took away from it.
all the characters had their parts to play. they were sticky and tricky and some alot worse than others(you know who you are,matey)
i was totally in to this book and sad when it left. i wanted to follow these two in to old age to make sure they were together in their happy ending.