Bad boy. Entitled. Spoiled. Words whispered about the wild and distractingly sexy heir to the Difrancos record label. When his parents die unexpectedly, he finds himself not running the company, but instead under the thumb of Ava Childs, the woman he loves to hate.
Everybody loves Ava…
She owes the Difranco family everything. They kept her off the streets and gave her a home. Even their rebellious son took a turn playing her hero, accepting the blame for her mistake. For years, she meant to come clean and tell his parents the truth , but now they’re gone and it’s too late to redeem him in their eyes.
Now they’ll have to work together…
Knowing Bruno will never accept “charity” from the girl who betrayed him, Ava devises a plan to see the company in his rightful hands. She’ll use whatever tricks she can to make it happen. They both want to be free of the other, but working in close proximity reveals just how thin the line between hate and love truly is. The Maverick is a standalone novella with an HEA, but it features characters from the Universe of all of Lola West's books. It is also book one in Lola's With the Band series.
Lola West is the queen of sweet, smart, silly, sexy romance! She has a PhD in women's studies and a flair for the dramatic. She likes cotton candy, astronomy, kitten heels and small town hunks.
Lola is a pen name.
The minds behind Lola are just like you - everyday people living regular lives, happy to day dream about sexy men and the sassy women they love. LONG LIVE THE BOOK BOYFRIEND!
I was so engrossed in this story I didn’t realize I was nearing the end until it slapped me in the face. Now I’m utterly distraught over not having the next book available.
Don’t let the opening fool you, this is an adult story with adult characters. They are out of college and working in the music industry, you momentarily see a glimpse into the past and a day in college.
Bruno is a conundrum. He’s a rich kid with a conscience. He’s an alpha male with a soft side. And he is intelligent and wise beyond his years. He doesn’t let anyone hold him back except himself at times.
Eva is his perfect match. Calculating, cunning, and compassionate. She may run a tight ship and seem to have balls of steel but deep down she’s simply a girl seeking acceptance. She strategically manages her life and those around her while ensuring everyone receives the best treatment possible.
And while these frenemies endure a hellacious battle of wills, they have a love that will withstand time and rival any of the greatest love stories ever told.
There is so much story left to be told and I cannot wait for the future of the With The Band series. Bruno and Eva’s story is only the beginning. Together they are going to help LSA rise above the clouds and rain down soul searing music on the world.
But that sneak peek we get at Killjoys in the extended epilogue is absolute fire in the making. A twenty-something’s substitute teacher with a love for music falling for a student seems like a recipe for chaos and I’ve already booked a ticket for the ride.
I think this is my first Lola West book that i was not blown away. Something was not sitting well with me from the get go. I think it was the fact that their story began when they were 14. I was trying to wrap my head around the fact that someone so young was allowed so much leeway in such a big firm. But other than that i did find it enjoyable. I think this book would get a much higher rating if it were a full length novel. I feel like the secrets from the past and how they fell into each others arms needed more time to heal and blossom.
Overall is was not a bad read. I did find i was smiling with how they interacted when they pulled down their walls and how the push and pull between them was a huge driving force behind their business success. Hopefully with book 2 I'll be in a better head space and it will blow me away like most of this authors books do.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
It has been a while since I've read anything by this author it seems, but this was totally worth the wait. Bruno and Ava have been in each others lives for a great many years and for most of them they've disliked each other. The have an opposites attract thing going on. But after a tragedy they realise in order to keep the record company that's both of their lives, they will need to work together and they realise the line between hate and love is thinner than they even imagined. This is a return to form of the highest calibre and I cannot wait to see what else comes from this series. I volunteered to read and review an early copy of this. All opinions are my own.
This was enjoyable. Bruno and Ava have an opposites attract and enemies to lovers thing going on that they have to get through in order to keep his parents company running. It's cute at times and sweet.
Lola has once again given me characters that I can't help but fall for. Ava and Bruno meet when they were 14. Ava is a gal that has had to work for everything she has while Bruno is the son of record mogul parents, but we haven't seen all of him yet. When one of them finds themselves innocent in a criminal act someone needs to take the fall. Now years later these enemies are brought back together to run the company that is left in their hands. Watch as these two dance around one another for years and never really get to know one another but once all is revealed how can they stay away!! Can they make this partnership work with a deadline and aboard waiting for them to fail? ~~Michele McMullen~~
Published: May 15, 2022 Lola West Pages: 131 Genre: Romance KKECReads Rating: 5/5 I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Lola West is the queen of sweet, intelligent, silly, sexy romance! She has a Ph.D. in women's studies and a flair for the dramatic. She likes cotton candy, astronomy, kitten heels, and small-town hunks. Lola is a pen name. The mind behind Lola is just like you - an everyday person living a regular life, happy to daydream about sexy men and the sassy women they love. LONG LIVE THE BOOK BOYFRIEND!
“I. Am. Not Your. Enemy.”
Ava has had to hustle her entire life. She plays the game better than anyone else because she knows she has no other choice. Bruno grew up wanting for nothing. He also grew up understanding his privilege. When he makes a sacrifice that shifts everything, Ava knows she will stop at nothing to even the score because she believes in Bruno, even if he doesn’t believe in himself yet.
Ugh! I was not ready for this to end. I enjoyed this book so much. This is the beginning of another epic series from Lola West.
Ava was a beautiful character. She has the ability to see people for who they are and what they are capable of. She can work a situation and come out on top. She is brave, strong, and loyal.
Bruno has never wanted for anything, otjer then his parents attention. Growing up the prince of a record label has been challenging. When it’s time for Bruno to rise up and take what is his, he knows he can do it, but only with Ava by his side.
I love the premise of this book, and I am so excited to see where this series goes. I wish this had been longer, because I’m not ready to say good bye!
I love how emotional this story was. Lola is such a talented storyteller, and her skill was showcased in this book. She will take you high, low, and everywhere in between.
It’s been a minute since we’ve had something new from Lola West and it’s been worth the wait. She’s given a taste of her new series and I can’t wait for more. “The Maverick” is a delicious and angsty enemies to lovers story set in a rockstar world.
Bruno and Ava have been self proclaimed enemies for most of their lives. Bruno was born into rockstar royalty. Ava was pulled off the streets by his parents for a second chance at life. But when a mistake happens, they become enemies. And before anyone can come clean, Bruno’s parents are killed in a plane crash. And the company that they spent their life building, their shares were left to Ava.
I loved the angst and tension between Ava and Bruno. They were true enemies because of circumstances and you could feel it as you read it. Both were misunderstood for most of their lives and that little tidbit fuels the mutual hate for each other. I loved how they worked together to make sure his parent’s legacy was secure with them. And the spicy scenes were some of the spiciest Lola has written, they were delightfully dirty. We get a couple glimpses from past characters in Lola’s world. I can’t wait for the next books in the series.
Lola West has done it again! She has created a world that I want to be immersed in and characters that I want to be my new best friends. Bruno and Ava are FANTASTIC!! The love/hate relationship these two have is beautifully written and evolved over the course of this book. You understand why they feel the way that they do but also can’t wait for those feelings to change. The writing when those changes comes… AH… it’s fabulous! Some of my favorite lines come from Bruno when he realizes truths he never knew before. Not only are Bruno and Ava amazing characters but Bruno’s network of friends are friendship goals. The love and care they have for each other is what everyone should have in life. I can’t wait to see what this new series is going to bring for each of these awesome people. This book is a MUST READ as I’m sure the entire series will be. I can’t wait for what comes next!
I received an advance copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Lola writes the best fun, quit and entertaining reads.
The Maverick is her new series and is a great start to the series. Ava and Bruno met when they were young and experienced something they tied them together then tore them apart.
Lola writes amazing characters with depth, determination and grit. This wonderful friends to enemies to lovers spans many years and takes the reader on an emotional adventure.
I received a complimentary copy and I am leaving my honest review.
Ava's life is her work at LSA records. She csn fix anything. But, will she be able to fix her relationship with Bruno, the owner's son when he inherits the company after the tragic desths of his parents? Once in a lifetime he saved her life and cost almost everything to him. Is she going to do the same even if it means to lose her job and her heart in the process? A very intense love and life story.
When they were just teenagers, Bruno did something big to save Ava, something that changed the course of their lives forever. Now, years later Bruno is the one who needs saving. Can these two work together when they are thrown together once more or will they both go down in flames? This was delightful. So emotionally charged with humor and smoking hot love scenes thrown in. I would read a whole series of these two.
Absolutely worth the wait for Lola’s book! She wins me over with her badass heroines and swoon worthy heroes every time.
Fucking DiFranco and his badass bitch! Seriously the power couple to be! Bruno and Ava have been enemies since they were teens. But their story blossoms into more and I just couldn’t put it down!
I have loved everything I have read by Lola West. My only criticism of this book is that I never got that they were "enemies", just confused over their feelings.
Not seeing why this novella is receiving such high ratings. The MMC hates the FMC for not clarifying that he did something illegal to his parents to save the FMC since he knew with his parents money, he could get out of getting in trouble. But he's held a major hatred for her for almost a decade. There comes a point where he needs to let it go and stop being such an asshole to the FMC. And all the extra characters just confused me and felt like they were just ways for the author to fill up the pages 🤷♀️.
Thank You for writing such a enjoyable read! What started out as me loving such a hard working go-getter in Ava, and not so much liking of Bruno - had me ending up loving them together.
Early in the book, he took the fall for her - not quite sure why he was so mad at Ava after that; he was a spoiled rich kid and she was the exact opposite. Tragic events happened and they were thrown together at LSA Records (Bruno’s parents company). Eventually, after wading through their feelings, they work harder than ever, and their plans come together, painfully for our couple, thankfully someone steps up.