The Rich Boy

4.25 stars-spicy and tender romance

4.25 stars--THE RICH BOY by Kylie Scott is a contemporary, adult, stand alone romance focusing on twenty-six year old, reluctant heir and billionaire Beck Olsen Elliott, and twenty-two year old, waitress Alice Lawrence.

Told from first person perspective (Alice) THE RICH BOY follows the building relationship between twenty-six year old, reluctant heir and billionaire Beck Olsen Elliott, and twenty-two year old, waitress Alice Lawrence. Alice Lawrence struggles with a direction in life and finds herself working at a local San Diego bar to make ends meet where she will come face to face with her future in the guise of new busboy Beck. A slow seduction ensues until the day Beck is called home to Denver, Colorado, to assume his position upon the death of his father. Secrets and lies, and dysfunctional family dynamics follow in the wake as Alice sets out on an adventure of a lifetime with a man she has known for barely a few weeks. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Alice and Beck, and the potential fall-out as Beck’s lies, and lies of omission push Alice one too many times.

The relationship between Beck and Alice is one of immediate attraction but Beck keeps secret his family history and the potential to inherit billions of dollars. Beck is a reluctant heir who had been trying to experience a life of normality but the death of his absentee father pulls Beck head first into a lifestyle he was hoping to avoid. Alice Lawrence is at a crossroads in her life. With a business degree, and working as a waitress going nowhere fast, Alice agrees to move to Denver with Beck but must battle her way to be accepted by the Elliott clan. The back and forth between Beck and Alice is fun, flirty and frenetic. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate and intense.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including Beck’s half-siblings: Ethan, Emma (and Matias) and Henry; his ex-girlfriend Selah, Grandmother Catherine, and her assistant Winston. We are up close and personal with the broken and dysfunctional Elliott family: their power and control; and their inability to understand the common man. Here’s hoping the author has plans for each of the Elliott siblings.

If you are a fan of the author’s Stage Dive series you will recognize her style of writing. Our hero Beck is similar in personality to our beloved Mal Ericson with his delivery, his humor and his playful attitude; the premise is reminiscent to David and Ev’s story line.

THE RICH BOY is a story of family and friendships; secrets and lies; vengeance, betrayal and love. The premise is engaging and entertaining; the characters are sassy, spirited but flawed ; the romance is spicy and tender. I struggled, ever so slightly, with Alice’s reaction to Beck’s secrets and lies, although not dangerous nor destructive, the lies were more heart breaking for our heroine when she discovers the reasons and why.