The Bad Boy Billionaire’s Wicked Arrangement & Girl Gone Wild by Maya Rodale

April 18th, 2014 Kimberly Review 48 Comments

18th Apr

The Bad Boy Billionaire's Wicked Arrangement
The Bad Boy Billionaire’s Wicked Arrangement
by Maya Rodale
Series: Bad Boys & Wallflowers #1.5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: December 31, 2013
Purchase: Amazon

One StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star

(This is the contemporary version of The Wicked Wallflower.) The first installment of a sexy, whirlwind romance about a modern day heroine writing historical romance novels based on her romantic misadventures with the bad boy billionaire. Jane Sparks has accidentally announced her engagement on Facebook—to the infamous Bad Boy Billionaire, Duke Austen. As soon as it’s discovered that Jane and Duke barely know each other (One hot kiss at a party does not a relationship make), she’ll be humiliated. And then Duke does something Jane never expected. He plays along with her charade. With his hard partying, playboy reputation jeopardizing a fifty million dollar investment deal, Duke realizes an engagement with the hot but oh-so-proper librarian could be just the thing to repair his reputation. This good girl tempts him to be very wicked…but just with her. It’s unprecedented. Inconceivable. Totally alluring. As the unlikely match of librarian and tech entrepreneur set out to convince the world—and the internet—that their love is real, something unexpected happens: they start falling for each other. But Jane is secretly writing a historical romance novel that could expose their carefully constructed romance…unless two perfect strangers are content to be perfectly scandalous together.

The Bad Boy Billionaire's Girl Gone WildThe Bad Boy Billionaire’s Girl Gone Wild
by Maya Rodale
Series: Bad Boys & Wallflowers #2.5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: February 4, 2014
Purchase: Amazon

One StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star

The second installment of a sexy, whirlwind romance about a modern-day heroine writing historical novels based on her romantic misadventures with the Bad Boy Billionaire. Being good hasn’t exactly worked out well for Jane Sparks. Her ex-boyfriend dumped her for being too predictable, and her fake fiancé, Duke Austen, is counting on her good-girl image to repair his bad-boy reputation. But everything changes with the publication of the historical romance novel she wrote based on her fauxmance with the Bad Boy Billionaire. Suddenly she’s notorious, scandalous, and causing lots of trouble. Duke Austen always admired Jane’s poise and perfectly demure behavior … qualities that seemed to have vanished once she helped him land a big investment deal. But now that his company is on the verge of a 20-billion-dollar IPO, the stakes have never been higher—and Jane has never been more shocking, provocative, or wickedly irresistible. She’s not at all the woman he bargained for, yet she’s the only one he wants. Duke is determined to woo his girl gone wild. She’s determined to keep him guessing. But Jane is discovering that there’s nothing so appealing as a billionaire who’s mad, bad, and dangerously seductive …

The Bad Boy Billionaire’s Wicked Arrangement & Girl Gone Wild are part of the Bad Boys & Wallflowers series by Maya Rodale. The Bad Boy Billionaire’s are a contemporary romance companion series to May Rodale’s historical romances series The Wicked Wallflowers. It is actually quite clever.

This modern-day romance features Jane Sparks, a librarian and would be a novelist. Jane has a brief encounter with Bad Boy Billionaire Duke Austen at an event held at the library. Thanks to the shenanigans of her friend, she accidentally announces her engagement to the Duke on Facebook. Imagine her surprise when Duke asks her to continue the charade. The tale that unfolds is delightful as Jane uses her real-life experiences to write historical romances called The Wicked Wallflower and Wallflower Gone Wild. The tale that unfolds is sweet, romantic and steamy as the lines between fact and fiction blur.

I really enjoyed the way this present day tale compliments the historical fiction series. It made me giggle as the tale created quite a stir for Duke and Jane. Jane is a planner; as her ten years high school anniversary approaches it has caused her to reassess. I found her inner struggles interesting and loved how her writing revealed her own hidden emotions. Duke is a bit of a mystery and I would have enjoyed getting his pov. He needs Jane to help ease investors’ concerns about his partying rogue image. I found Jane to be smart, naïve at times and a hopeless romantic. I enjoyed watching her find herself.

The arrangement trope is one of my favorites and while Rodale follows a familiar storyline, her twist of incorporating her historical fiction into a modern-day tale was brilliant. The Bad Boy Billionaire’s Wicked Arrangement & Girl Gone Wild was predictable but utterly charming. I am anxious to see how it all works out for Duke and Jane. The final novella What A Girl Wants will release in May, 2014. You do not have to read the historical series to read the modern. They are separate, but for those who enjoy both genres, it is quite fun.

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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

48 Responses to “The Bad Boy Billionaire’s Wicked Arrangement & Girl Gone Wild by Maya Rodale”

  1. Glass

    This looks like perfect choice when you crave something light and fun. Thank you for sharing, I’ll have to check them out.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      This series is fun, I just got book three and cannot wait to devour it 🙂

  2. Braine Talk Supe

    Oooh very clever plotting there! Unique way of doing a crossover but I think I would need to read both series for me to appreciate Jane & Duke’s story. Maybe someday when my TBR isn’t as shitty as it is right now.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I would say yes, but have only read book 1 and then 1.5 and 2.5 and could still appreciate it.I feel you on the TBR pile *eyes books surrounding laptop*

    • kimbacaffeinate

      It was clever and then way in which they intertwine made me smile 🙂

  3. Lily

    I have to admit i have not heard of these before but they do like some pretty fun books to read, especially in the summer by the pool when i’ll need a light read!
    lily @ Lilysbookblog

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Ooo now I will be dreaming about reading by the pool!

  4. Michelle

    What a cool idea! I was wondering why these novella’s looked so ‘new’ compared to the novels. This seems like a really fun series.

  5. Heidi

    I am glad you enjoyed these overall, but in all honesty, they aren’t for me. Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

  6. Jenea

    Wow, this is a good idea making a contemporary version of the historical one. They both sound like good reads too. Great review!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      It is neat and more to it then that, but the tales intertwine.

  7. Tanja

    This is really interesting. I mean this series goes from historical fiction to contemporary novels. I mean this might not me my cup of tea (coffee) but I’d lie if I said I wasn’t intrigued. I’m really glad you enjoyed both of these. Great reviews 🙂

    • kimbacaffeinate

      It is clever and I love how they tie together 🙂

  8. Candace

    That’s an interesting connection, HFR and contemp. I’m not a fan of such steamy covers (I have to read them in private otherwise my kids ask a million questions) but the stories sound pretty good!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      The books aren’t all that steamy, well there is heat but yes the covers are. LOL Kindle reads for sure 🙂

  9. Karen

    Awww this sounds adorable and fun. I think I’ll download these two but wait for the third before reading.

    Is there a cliffhanger?

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Since it is a serial there is a certain a cliffy feel, but at least they release rather close together.

  10. Camille

    I read the first book in the modern setting and really enjoyed the story. I just haven’t gotten around to getting a copy of the second installment yet. Maybe when the third and last one comes out, I’ll do a back-to-back read LOL 🙂 Thanks for the review Kimba 🙂

    • kimbacaffeinate

      That sounds like a perfect plan to me Camille..enjoy!

  11. Melliane

    it’s nice to have some great novellas like that. I don’t read a lot of them, only the ones from authors I love but maybe if I try the series as well because I think they’re always a bit tricky.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I agree but this modern day is a serial which allows for the story to develop.

  12. Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf

    These sound like so much fun. I think the pretending to be a couple trope is 2nd only to the friends to lovers trope as my favorite. Love the idea of a modern tale and then her historical fiction as the other tales!

  13. Mary

    I enjoyed the first two and am waiting for the third! This was one of the first serials I read so I was a tad irritated to find myself left high and dry at the end but I like the characters and am enjoying the story.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I had no idea these were serials either Mary and then was all WTH?!? I hate this new trend, but need to know what happens.

  14. kindlemom1

    I love that these blend historic with a modern spin, they sound fabulous and it looks like they have a pretty solid rating for you for both of them.

  15. Nick

    That’s so interesting that the author wrote a contemporary companion series to her historical romance series. Very clever.
    These sound like they would be fun and romantic books to read on a summer day. I saw one of the books on EW I think and it caught my attention and seeing that you liked them, I think I’m going to add them to my summer reading list!
    Lovely review, Kim.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Perfect for summer Nick and I enjoyed the cleverness of it all.

  16. Jennifer Bielman

    Well, I read Wallflower Gone Wild and I have the 2.5 book, but so far this has just been an okay series for me. Good but not great. But I do love these concepts.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I still need to read 2 and then I will be caught up 🙂

  17. Tash

    Gah , I”m regretting passing an opportunity to do some reviews and promos for these books. They sounds delightful and I never knew they were connected to her historical books

    • kimbacaffeinate

      These were fun and I am anxious for book three. I think these are .99 cents each Tash 🙂