The Boss Project

Their Workplace Romance Has A Few Laughs & The Couple Has Great Chemistry. Grandma Kitty Is A Hoot.The story opens in the mid- to late-summer in New York.Doctor Everly Vaughn, twenty-nine, is still living down her wedding day six months later. She and Christian had dated for three and a half years before that infamous day. They met at Emory University in Atlanta, where Evie earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology. They had moved to New York together while they both worked at his family’s pharmaceutical company – Christian to get some experience before taking over in the Atlanta office, and Evie to complete an internship. Evie was all too happy to make the move, which brought her closer to her older sister Greer and her brother-in-law Ben. Having family nearby softened the blow of that day, but losing her job, her apartment, her best friend, and her groom on her wedding day was a hard loss to bounce back from. It was particularly difficult to live it down when her humiliation became an instant viral internet sensation.Evie hadn’t seen the disaster coming. As a clinical psychologist, perhaps she should have, but their relationship gave her no cause for concern. Christian was steady and reliable until he wasn’t. The lack of emotional ups and downs gave Evie the sense of safety she needed in a relationship. Her mother was a victim of domestic violence, and Evie had grown up living in fear. Her mother finally left her father for good, but it was not without the kindness and assistance of others. Evie was inspired by that help and decided to pay it forward in her own way as an adult. She supports the cause of victims when she can. Her career as a therapist is one such way for her to help others by helping them work through their issues.After taking six months off of work and out of sight of the paparazzi, allowing the story to die off, Evie needs to get her life back in order, which begins by getting a job. Her late grandmother’s long-time best friend and neighbor, Kitty, has become a close friend, and she promises to help get Evie an interview at her grandson’s firm. Evie is not quite qualified for the position, but she will pursue any lead she can get.Merrick Crawford, thirty-two, is a workaholic with commitment issues. He is confident and charming but also dismissive and unapproachable. He is hard to read and unpredictable. At times he is admittedly inappropriate, but he can talk his way out of anything. He has no shortage of beautiful women vying for his attention, but relationships are hard to come by for someone that works the kind of hours he does. He founded Crawford Investments just three years out of Princeton. His investment firm is the highest-performing firm three years running now, which means he only hires the best. But the board is grumbling about the recent lawsuits from a handful of disgruntled employees, none of which were up to par. His employees all have the choice to leave if they cannot perform as expected; the lawsuits are just drama. Nevertheless, it means that he must now hire a therapist to address the stress level in the company. The idea does not sit well with Merrick for a variety of reasons. And forcing his employees to attend a one-hour therapy session each month seems like a waste of their valuable time. He is tempted to sabotage the effort by choosing the least qualified candidate for the job.When Merrick and Evie first cross paths, neither knows they are about to sit through an interview together. Their embarrassing first encounter leads to a most unusual interview, and Evie is an unusual candidate. Least qualified for the position, she yet stands out from the crowd in her no-nonsense attitude. She is feisty and funny, and she definitely has Merrick’s attention. Once she joins the firm, however, both try to focus on work. Merrick finds himself lost in thought all too often when Evie is nearby, and he is sometimes too obvious in his admiration of her. He knows the attraction goes two ways, so he has a hard time holding back.Evie’s recent breakup makes her vulnerable, and Merrick knows a thing or two about that. It has been three years since he lost Amelia. After six years together, he thought he knew his fiancée, but he was wrong. Despite his growing feelings and deep attraction to Evie, Merrick might never take the leap with Evie and put his heart at risk again if not for the interference of his matchmaking grandmother, Kitty, whose advice is to manifest your own happiness.Merrick and Evie’s story is a slow burn about two broken hearts finding love and manifesting their happy ending. Evie’s story dominates in the earlier part of the story, and her humiliation is complete. Merrick is more of a mystery. He seems confident and put together, but the question marks about him keep adding up. His story sneaks up on you, much like his grief sneaks up on him. His behavior is a little over-the-top and dramatic, but in the end, it works out.There are a few issues that merit mention. First, although Merrick and Evie are supposed to have this unquenchable passion for one another, their story is often more serious in tone, slowly progressing. Their story is good but slow-moving, not quite living up to that desperate passion that they taut. Next, there are some timeline issues with the story. Some of it takes a while to piece together. There are some time references within chapter twenty-six that do not make sense as written. The story primarily takes place during the summer, over the course of roughly one to two months, and as it reads, it puts the story in November and December. This passage had me frustrated, reading and rereading it while I did the mental math. In the epilogue, Abbey is portrayed more so as a toddler, when in fact, one year later she would be roughly three or four months old. Finally, there are a few issues – such as the lawsuit, the model neighbor, and the real estate search – that initially seem important but which fade into the background, feeling forgotten. Some are revisited, but not with the vigor I expected.Merrick and Evie’s workplace romance is a heartbreaker. There are a few laughs along their journey, and the couple has great chemistry. Merrick seems controlled and in charge, but he masks his pain well. His grandmother Kitty is a hoot. She has a lot of character and adds levity to the story. The story is nicely written. The plot is somewhat complex and slow to unfold. The characters are carefully crafted and authentic. The story is written in first person. The POV alternates between Merrick and Evie. I rate this book 4.5 stars.

Vi Keeland does this trope very well.  This isn't her first foray into the "falling for the boss" storyline, but she manages to keep each story different and fresh I don't mind that she's done it before.  The Boss Project is no exception.Forced into hiring a therapist for his trading firm to help with it's corporate culture, Merrick Crawford doesn't want the hassle.  He figures his employees need to grow a thicker skin because his attitude is part of being a trader.  Hiring what he feels is the least competent person, makes him think he's won the game against his board.  But the joke is on Merrick when Evie not only proves to be beyond competent but becomes vital to him.I really enjoyed Merrick and Evie together.  The snappy, witty dialogue between them from their first meeting was superb. Add the chemistry and you knew these 2 would compliment each other perfectly.  It didn't hurt that Merrick's grandmother was as vital to Evie and she was to Merrick.  She helped both of them see their respective baggage shouldn't define the rest of their lives and to see what was right in front of them.As always, I get to the end of a Vi Keeland book with a smile on my face and am a bit disappointed that it's over.

No cliffhangerStandaloneTold from both POVsBoss/Employee RomanceI absolutely loved this book. I was hooked from the first chapter and didn’t want to put it down. I don’t know how Vi Keeland does it but she continues to tell stories that are mesmerizing and all feel different.Evie and Merrick are strangers who meet in the most awkward way. Only made more awkward when a few minutes later she realizes she is interviewing with him to work for his company.Their chemistry is immediate, even if it is mostly hostile. But over time, and with the help of a meddling grandmother they grow closer. The major issue is they both have more baggage than JFK. Can they both move past their biggest fears and be together or will past wounds continue to rip them apart?I don’t want to give too much away because the twists and turns of their baggage is what makes this book what it is.It is a 1000% a must read! I’m just sad it is over. I want more of their epilogue! I also want to know what happened when she went to lunch with her ex!!!!

Another stellar read crafted by Ms Keeland. Evie the herione is no slouch earning her doctorate degree while her life seem to crumble around her but her grandmother's feisty neighbor Kitty is a good support system for her. When Kitty suggests that Evie apply for a in house therapist position at her grandson Merrick's company she did.It's hard to forget a bad first impression and Evie is hoping that Merrick would forget they ever met after a horrible interview with him however their meet cute is very original.I love when an author gives the reader a good back story and wow they have good onesI also enjoy reading back stories that intertwine in some way and both is something Ms Keeland excels at as a writer.

Well Vi has done it again. A wonderful happy easy to read story about two people really Merrick a stockbroker and Evie a jilted bride. They both share a friend. Kitty grandmother to Merrick and longtime friend to Evie. A matchmaker. Evie is looking for a job, has had several unsuccessful interviews and ruined outfits when she has a chance encounter with her soon to be new boss. The story unfolds and is easy to follow although as ever difficult to stop and put down. A compulsive read, with a few bumps but a delightful HEA. Well written with a fabulous recipe for a great book. To good to miss.

A swoon-worthy office romance that did deliciously good things to my heart, but also left me pining for so much more.The Boss Project had tears in my eyes and plot twists I didn’t see coming.This story isn't just witty banter and steamy scenes. It's also a heartfelt romance sure to tug at your emotions.Humour, heartache, a dirty talking hero who will set you ablaze, and most of all the soul defining type of love that Evie and Merrick share makes this a total five star read for me!Also the ending (which I predicted) was the perfect touch! Just that scene gave me all the feels!Plot: 📚📚📚📚📚Character rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Sexiness: 🔥🔥🔥🔥Feels: 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤Writing style: 🖊🖊🖊🖊🖊

What a brilliant book, seeing the struggles Merrick and Evie had gone through and understanding their hung ups was fascinating. Both had experienced loss and distrust but acted on their feelings differently, Vi managed to show both their hurt and progress as well as the personal trauma with so much heart and tact. I really loved this book, would definitely recommend it.

I normally love Vi Keeland novels. They are fabulous escapism.The Boss Project, however, lacked the usual chemistry and fabulous storyline. I found myself bored with this storyline here. There was zero chemistry between the main characters. Office romances need the will they won’t they and the intense chemistry. This book had neither.

Fast moving story line, really enjoyable, even more so with the introduction of Kitty. You are going to love her. Full of delicious wickedness. I had 'laugh out loud'. moments, which you will too. Not going to spoil it for you by giving anything away. All I will say is it's a book worth reading.