⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Tropes: age gap, dad’s best friend, forbidden romance.
Triggers: DV (not with the main couple), cheating (not the main couple), revenge sex tape leak (not the main couple), parent death (cancer), and infertility.

Instantly hooked me! This story was so addictive and I couldn’t get enough.

I absolutely loved the storyline. It was complex and multilayered which had me in a chokehold. This was a story about right guy wrong time, heartbreak, and a family learning to come together after such a great loss. But most importantly, this is a story about a woman picking up the pieces of her life and a man who helped her learn to love herself again.

The characters all had so much depth. It was easy to connect with them and fall in love.

Cal, specifically, was perfection. A man willing to do the dishes? Raw, next question.

Besides his unwillingness to conform to standardized gender roles, this man went out of his way to show Daphne her self worth and never once tried to steal her shine. And he made it all look so effortless! Cal is a king!

Now, poor Daphne was really going through it the entire book but I still loved her. It was incredibly easy to see why Cal felt the same. Despite life constantly taking Daphne out at the knees, she never once sounded like a whiny baby over it. She took it all square on the chin and reacted exactly how I would expect someone to IRL. Yes, she would cry at times and would have to take a step back to protect her peace, but she didn’t make everyone else miserable around her in the process. Nor did she throw pity parties and try to make everyone feel sorry for her. I absolutely loved that about her.

The supporting characters were equally full of depth. I won’t say they are all likable, but I definitely appreciated how even the smallest of characters had so much personality. It really brought the story to life.

The spice was spot on. There is nothing sexier than a man who understands consent and boundaries and boy does Cal get it! If Daphne was uncomfortable with something that was enough for him to take a step back. I also loved how he took the time to gain Daphne’s trust before pushing her to go further in the bedroom. Every intimate interaction between them was whatever Daphne was comfortable with and he never once complained or asked for more. Again, Cal is a King!

Despite my obvious obsession with this book, the ending did fall a bit flat for me. Children seemed to be a major component in the story whether it be fertility issues, a surprise pregnancy (not the MCs), or exes with babies needing a sitter. Not to mention the conversations about having kids between the main couple…. So tell me why they never had a baby??? Like, not even in the epilogue. I was so disappointed that the story presented every neon sign pointing in that direction and it didn’t even happen.

Also, I just flat out needed more. It really seemed like all of a sudden the characters were just like, “okay, we can be happy now” and went on about their day. NO! After everything these two went through, I desperately needed to really see them be happy together. Yes, this did end with an HEA and we get a crumb of their future, but I didn’t want to settle for a crumb! I wanted the whole damn cookie!

Knowing me, I am totally blowing it out of proportion, but at the end of the day, I’m just a girl who gets attached to fictional characters. I’m not sorry about that.

With all of that said, I really loved this book. I adored the characters so much, I don’t think I could ever get enough of them. If this got turned into a series where we followed the characters mundane lives all the way to the end, I would devour it and probably still demand for more.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a deeply relatable story with so much depth you could drown in it. Especially if you are someone who loves a fictional man who fully understands consent. Cal is your guy!

Despite my rave of this book and my definite recommendation, I still advise everyone to read the triggers before jumping in and avoid reading if it may disturb your peace.

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.

I loveddd this book. I appreciated it for what it as and was expecting a fun time where I was entertained for most of it. Safe to say that was not this book. I was ADDICTED. I have exams I'm supposed to be revising for and instead I could not put down this book. I had a fantastic time and was disappointed when I finished this book way too soon. I can't wait to pick up another book by this author.


Thank you NetGalley for this ARC <3

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.

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.