seriously romantic: the big, bad billionaire by jackie ashenden

the big, bad billionaire continues the billionaire series with a retelling of little red riding hood. i would have never thought that there was so much romantic possibility to mine from this story, but this is the second time i've read a retelling and loved it. i think part of it is that little red riding hood may be little, may be young, but she is strong. she's fascinated by the wolf but isn't entirely taken in by him.

and that's true here. rafael de santis has been pushed away and neglected by his family for being wild and out of control. literally given over to an abusive grandfather and forgotten. and from the shadows he orchestrates his return and his revenge. but he's never forgotten ella hart. a small child when he was sent away, she'd always sought him out. and even then he loved and protected her.

time changes her feelings, but not his. hers are influenced by her parents' distrust of rafael. but when he sees her dance not long after his return to the family fold, he is entranced by her. even as she rejects him anytime he tries to draw her close. when he assumes her guardianship and makes it impossible for her to avoid him. she's afraid at first. but rafe isn't interested in a girl who cowers with fear, instead challenging her to stand up to him. he wants the fight. he needs the cut of anger laced with the pleasure of love.

and that is what ella and rafe's push-pull is all about. the intensity of emotion, of pain, of pleasure, that blossoms between them. oh, it is the stuff of fairy tales. except these are definitely R rated. i've enjoyed the installments in this series, and kind of hope there are more. maybe a take on rapunzel?

**the big, bad billionaire will publish on november 21, 2017. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/st. martin's press (swerve) in exchange for my honest review.