seriously romantic: the billionaire's virgin by jackie ashenden

kicking off a new series by jackie ashenden, the billionaire's virgin is actually a sweetly emotional story about poverty and generosity. mia has been homeless since she ran away from her abusive grandmother. somehow she's managed to survive the streets of new york, avoiding assault, robbery, prostitution, starvation and hypothermia, among other horrible things. she wants a better life for herself, but without a proper education, without an address and access to the internet, she doesn't even have the chance to better her position in life.

xavier de santis was born with a silver spoon. he's never known what it is to want or need without having those things fulfilled. he doesn't understand why mia resists his tiny overtures, why she refuses his help at every turn. yes, he wants her, he's intrigued by her, but he also genuinely wants to give her the things she needs. and her insistence on battling him at every turn is so baffling. he doesn't have the ability to comprehend the kind of life she's been living, and yet he is so drawn to her that he can't help but try. and when circumstances make it so that she has nowhere else to turn, he's going to take every advantage he can. because all he wants to do is hold this woman in his arms and cherish her. the attraction between them something inexplicable. there are so many willing women in his social set, but he wants mia.

i really enjoyed the connection between mia and xavier. she's such a strong character and as the connection between them grows and strengthens you see real growth on both their parts. as a cinderella story this really works, and as a sexy romance it also really works. i love the cover, and am less excited about the title, but you can't have it all.

**the billionaire's virgin publishes on january 10, 2017. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/st. martin's press (swerve) in exchange for my honest review.