Amara's Calling (Billionaire's Club, #1) by C.L. Donley

Amara's Calling (Billionaire's Club, #1) Reviews

• 
  Rachel

  DNF.
  
  I kept picking and putting down this one hoping something would grab me and not let me go until I finished. Maybe I've read too many of these books where women barter with men using their virginity, bodies, or what have you, I was expecting something different, but I guess I should have really taken heed to the blurb where it said this story included every single Plain Jane trope. I got less than 40% into this before deciding to throw in the towel. Things were moving okay, pace wise, I suppose but once the "gauntlet" was thrown where Amara made a deal with Grayson to be his gold digger, it just kind of turned me off. I understand this was probably written with humor in mind, but her proposition didn't ring true to me, learning what little I did learn about her. There were parts that made me chuckle, but a few chuckles just isn't enough. So my search for a gripping IR romance continues.
• 
  Coco.V

  💝FREE on Amazon today (6/19/2018)!💝
  
  Blurb:
  Amara is a young idealistic 20-something who goes to work for her crush and personal hero, Grayson Davis, a 30's Mark Zuckerberg type and CEO of an internet startup called Webster, the story world's equivalent of Facebook. Being a young African American woman in a predominantly white world, Amara is reticent to believe that she's actually caught the attention of the notorious playboy billionaire. When she discovers that she has, but not for the purposes of happily ever after, she decides to strike a deal with him: one million for the privilege of being his mistress. It seemed like a modern day win/win, but neither anticipates the emotional challenges their contract will bring. Will they inadvertently fall in love, or will the ghosts of their tragic pasts keep them apart?
• 
  Destiny

  This was a strange, refreshing book.
  
  Idk. It just seemed to be really real to me. The characters seemed to jump off the page. I liked that despite being a billionaire, Grayson, had his issues. He didn't seem perfect. I don't really read a lot of billionaire romance novels. I tend to think they're unrealistic (how can someone be that young and that rich)? I thought Grayson was done well.
  
  Amara was a breath of fresh air. She was funny and awkward and she was lost in life. I definitely can relate to that. I liked that she found what she wanted.
  
  I really liked this book though. It was strange and new I suppose. I'll definitely be checking out more of the author's work. She's one to watch.
• 
  Laverne Brewster

  3.00 Stars. In this romance story, the heroine, Amara "Amy" Riley, propositions the hero, Grayson Davis, to enter into to a contract where she (Amy) will be his mistress for 4 weeks at a cost of one million dollars. Grayson is the founding owner and CEO of the milti-billionaire business where Amy works as a third tier associate; she's long been enamored by Grayson's good looks, poise, business savvy and success but she never expects that he will notice her intellect, whimsical charm, and creative talents; until he does. Shortly after a few interactions between Amy and Grayson, his good friend and partner, Dale, pays Amara to aide in a prank on Grayson, this event leads to Amy's mistress proposition. The storyline continues the humdrum predictable route of other stories like it...the couple rubs elbows with high society, have sex, make a baby, break up, make up, marry and live happily there after. And that's okay, But. I think, the better story would have featured Grayson because he is a more interesting character than Amy...so, an autistic Grayson with his aloofness, controlling behavior, curt directness, and social ineptness with the added challenge of navigating an unexpected attraction to a Black character like Amara-great story.
• 
  C.L. Donley

  m'kay, so I know I'm a little bit biased being the author and all but... this book is really good. :p
  
  Every time I would go back to edit this thing, I would get lost for at least 45 minutes or so... just READING. I never get tired of this story or these characters. I made this book for all those romance readers that have had to leave critical reviews for a romance, especially when they really really don't want to. You don't want to have to take time out of your life, to leave a bad review of a book with bad graphics, and a shirtless model on the cover, b/c why? But it's like they're DRIVING you to it. One can only take so much carelessness.
  
  So here you are, romance readers. Your artisan, carefully-crafted, steamy, binge-worthy book boyfriend. You're welcome in advance and yes, I do love you.
• 
  Empi Baryeh

  Amara's Calling is like Indecent Proposal meets Pretty Woman. Amara is the assistant to the assistant, is dissatisfied with her job of a few months and is already thinking of quitting.
  
  
  
  Grayson, the CEO of the company, has been catapulted into fame and fortune due to the massive success of his social media platform (so basically Mark Zuckerburg, but he looks like James Dean). He visits the office once every quarter or so, which is where the books starts - on the occasion of one of his rare visits.
  Amara, who idolises Grayson, is invited into a board meeting and their conversation, which is quite ordinary leaves an impression on both. However, aside from being employer and employee, Amara is not the kind of woman Grayson normally dates - on account of she's black rather than a foreign blonde with blue eyes.
  
  
  
  What I liked
  
  Amara and Grayson are two accomplished people on paper (he's a billionaire CEO and she's educated with a master's degree). I especially liked the fact that despite his money, Grayson was a geek at heart. Their attraction was mutual, which brought some sexual tension. The sex scenes were hot while remaining sweet. Amara had a support system of her two closest friends, Mya and Kim, whose conversations were interesting to say the least.
  
  
  
  What didn't work for me
  
  To be honest, I didn't connect with either Amara or Grayson, which was a shame because Amara, especially, had so much potential. She was well-educated but hadn't figured out what she wanted to do with her life, and I'd hoped she'd somehow channel her smarts into helping the company out of a bind or something. However, the plot rather took the opposite turn, focusing on their sexual relationship. That would have been okay if the plot developed beyond that, but unfortunately, it didn't (for me).
  
  
  
  As mentioned earlier, the hero wasn't the usual suave billionaire romance hero, but he's not deficient in the arrogance department. He was verbally abusive in some parts, and even though a reason was given for that, it didn't fully win me over. It would have been great to see him have to truly fight for the love of the heroine, but things were too easy for him. The story also perpetuated some stereotypes especially about women and blacks.
  
  
  
  Overall Impression
  
  Although, this particular story didn't meet my expectations, I felt the author is worth another try. The story is well-written, which is the strongest aspect of the story for me. There is some head-hopping, but that appears to be a deliberate style the author chose. Once I accepted that, it didn't bother me too much. I'd definitely try book 2 before making a decision on the series, because the hero seemed promising as a secondary character in book 1, and the heroine - well, she was a little crazy and I'd love to see how she handles her own journey to HEA.
• 
  Sharon Eikenberry-Deary

  Amara so out going and smart
  
  She was so easily board but she worked for the man she has admired forever. Until the day her dream came true and she met him. It was in front of so many ways to managers but she was honest. He was captivated. He stalked her, so to speak, an she didn't even know he knew her. He was dumbfounded with her proposal on the beach on night. He told her he didn't do relationships or love. What was it about this girl who turned his world inside out but was the best thing for him.
• 
  Rosa

  A must read. I love her writing style. Love the story. I wish it could be longer, between the two months separation, the writer wraped it up in 1 page summary.That is why I need Amara and Grayson in series two as a supporting characters(if there is a series?) . They are two mess up, twisted, weird but loveable set of characters, oh how I need to see them more.
• 
  Zeinab Dh

  I chose to read and review this book. this was an interesting book to read. felt very serious and deep it is well written the plot flow characters were well done and fit the storyline very well
  
  
  
• 
  Karen

  It was a great book. The auther kept your interest. An amazing love story with a great storyline that kept your interest. It is fun, romantic, easy story that could have had more background built into it. I laughed a lot while reading this book.
• 
  Tracey

  I could not get past Chapter Nine. The characters lacked maturity on all levels.
• 
  Jessica Scholer

  Did not finish
  
  I barely got to chapter six. Too hard to get into and what annoyed me the most were the roommates.
• 
  Emma

  OMG... I am in love with this book. I laughed and smiled. For the conclusion, I sighed happily. The plotline was exceptional. It is about Amara/Amy Riley. She was working at Webster, an internet company, as an assistant to an assistant to a project manager. She was fascinated by the CEO, Greyson Davis. She admired him and had stayed on top of his career over the years. She had a crush on him. One day at Webster, Greyson was expected to attend a meeting. Amy's co-worker Amanda talked her into walking by the conference room that he was in. When Greyson saw her he asked one of the attendees to bring her in. Once she was in she could not believe her luck. She was going to make the most of this impromptu meeting. Greyson addressed her by her proper name not her nickname and found her intelligent, delightful, witty and confident. She was authentic and had a great personality. Amara told him that she was thinking of giving her two week notice because she did not feel the job challenged her. Greyson asked her to reconsider. After she left and went back to her cubicle, she received a message from him asking her to meet him for lunch at the company cafeteria. Amara went to the café and saw that he was surrounded by management employees. So she sat at a table alone. He talked her into joining him after some light banter via the Webster app. After lunch she returned back to work. she thought she would never see him again. Dale was the CIO and Greyson's best friend. They created Webster together. Dale became aware that Greyson had a little more of an attraction to Amara. So when he found out she was quitting, he called Greyson to tell him. As a result of that conversation he had an idea. He called Amara into his office and convinced her to help him prank Greyson. She agreed. Dale invited her to a party where Greyson would be. Well the hijinks had begun. From that point on there were lots of laughs in the banter between Amara and Greyson. They were comfortable with each other. Well I won't spoil the rest of the story. I just will tell you it is funny, emotionally good and also devastating. It is also romantic. This is a must read. I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• 
  Alejandra Guerrero

  Really akward writing, constant perspective changes within each chapter, and also wild present tense sentences here and there when the book is written in third person past. All this made it really difficult to follow the conversations.
  He seemed like a very conceited guy, but he was supposedly bullied during most of his childhood. Took a bunch of meds that made him fat (yes, that word is used), and when he stopped taking them he became super hot overnight. Couldn't like him. And she's "not like other girls" and "hot but she doesn't know it". I can't relate to her either. Also, their interactions make no sense most of the time; I just couldn't take it after she basically charges him one million dollars to take her virginity and be his "gold digger" for a few weeks and he accepts; why, I don't know. It's not like he gets something out of the deal he couldn't possibly have gotten otherwise, since she basically admits she wants him to have sex with her. Nothing makes sense.
• 
  Bouke Sieperda

  I am a fan of billionair romances and have red already many of them
  but this one is a outstanding one!Christine Donley knows how to write a different one from the relugular billionair romances ,in a exellent refreshing way!
  For me i could hardly stop so every now and them with reading to take a break
  and kept alsmost constant reader up till the very end!
  Yes,YES! a page turner of great format!
  and i am waiting for more of such books from this author!
  This book results into a 5 star plus, plus one!
  thanks to the author for this brilliant story!!
• 
  Misha

  Wow
  
  Ok damn!! This book knock my socks off!! Wow this book was full of so much! Love, hate personal struggle and laugher!! Grayson was so damn Alpha male with a hint of lovableness (I think thats a word) *giggles* I love the way she touched autism and showed reader how it can have levels. I did laugh a lot in this book! Amara is my hero! She took everything Grayson throw at her like a savage! She didn't play! And the restaurant scene god damn.... Yeah she has me as a fan!! Really for more!!!!
• 
  Darcy Yarosh

  Amara's Calling by C.L. Donley
  I was gifted this book for an honest review and I must say - damn, girl I loved it. What is it about this writer not to love? She writes real page turners!
  I loved this book because the characters are so real and honest. This is how relationships work: we make advances, screw up, make up an then get better at the game of love. It will make more sense when you read the book. You will love it and feel elated after.
  
• 
  Darlene Fessenden

  Awesome romance story
  
  This is one of the best books I’ve read with lots of action and amazingly hot scenes throughout. I binge read because it was impossible for me to put it down. I’m looking forward to the next book with great anticipation. I highly recommend it for everyone who loves an amazing love story with lots of adventure and characters that come to life.
• 
  kathy

  You Go Girl
  
  Amanda's Calling was a wonderful read. I loved the storyline and how powerful she was in so many different ways. She was cool and edgy and so very smart. She didn't make excuses to anyone , she wanted what she wanted and that was it. Great read I am buying the next in the series!!!!