True North

4.25stars-- TRUE NORTH is the third instalment in JB Salsbury’s contemporary, adult THE NORTH BROTHERS erotic, romance series focusing on the North brothers: Alexander, Kingston and twins Hudson and Hayes. This is thirty-two year old, billionaire businessman Hudson North, and PA Lillian Gillingham’s story line. TRUE NORTH can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Hudson and Lillian) TRUE NORTH follows the forbidden relationship between thirty-two year old, billionaire businessman Hudson North, and PA Lillian Gillingham. Lillian Gillingham is Hayes North’s personal assistant but his treatment of Lillian borders on abusive and feral. With Hudson’s assistant on maternity leave, our hero hires Lillian as his assistant for a series of weekend meetings, meetings in which Lillian will offer her opinion in the face of shock and and potential loss. Truthfully blunt, and often without thinking, Lillian is always on the verge of a potential breakdown until the man in charge sends our heroine packing but not before Hudson finds himself falling for the woman that calls to his heart. As Lillian and Hudson’s relationship goes from professional to personal, Hudson discovers a betrayal at the top, a betrayal against the woman with whom he is falling in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Hudson and Lillian, and the potential fall-out as Lillian struggles with issues of trust, believing she is Hudson’s latest project, not the woman he loves.

Lillian Gillingham is a bit of a mess. With no official diagnosis, Lillian often finds herself stretched to the limits, honest to the point of blunt and rude, and a little scattered in her every day life. Living with her brother in New York, Lillian battles between head and heart believing she is not worthy of another’s love. Hudson North doesn’t do long term relationships, in fact, it has been several years since anyone has seen our hero with someone else. Lillian is, and was, an employee of the North family, and in this, their relationship is scrutinized by the man at the top. Refusing to walk away, Hudson threatens to bring down the top when secrets are revealed, betraying the woman he loves.

The relationship between Hudson and Lillian is one of immediate attraction but Hayes presents Lillian as a lost cause; a mess, an incompetent, and a nobody who is nothing but a waste of oxygen. Refusing to accept his brother’s description of our story line heroine, Hudson, who has a bit of a savior complex, offers Lillian everything and more, an offer that threatens his position within North Industries. The $ex scenes are erotic, passionate and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including Lillian’s brother Aaron and his friend Dirk, and via the phone Lillian’s mother. We are reintroduced to Hudson’s siblings: twin brother Hayes, Alexander and Jordan, Kingston and Gabriella, as well as their father August; Hudson’s driver Carina, and escort Ellie.

TRUE NORTH is a story of dysfunctional family relationships, friendships and love; power and control; acceptance and understanding. The premise is intriguing, captivating and emotional; the romance is seductive and impassioned; the characters are charismatic and determined. TRUE NORTH ends on a bit of a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

I could not put this book down ... just like the first two books in this series! I loved Lillian and Hudson. Lillian was this vivacious scatterbrain with a zest for life and I couldn't help but to be drawn into her vortex ... and obviously Hudson couldn't resist either. Lillan's family ... what a bunch of jerks, especially her brother! Then there's Hudson ... who wouldn't love a hunk with a hero complex? Hudson is the quiet North brother who doesn't cause ripples. He doesn't want to be anything like his father ... who sleeps with his employees and is a ruthless businessman. The banter between the characters is very realistic, especially the brothers. With the little teaser at the end ... I can't wait for Hayes story! He is such a jerk and the author has her work cut out for her to make him likeable ... never mind loveable.

Lillian mistakes Hudson for his twin brother Hayes (her boss who does nothing but degrade and yell at her) at the Christmas party and after a few drinks, she tells him off and then knees him where it hurts the most. Hudson can't resist to help damsels in distress and he knows that Hayes must have done something to Lillian for her to react like that. Lillian gets transferred to Hudson's department and they go on a business trip where Lillian shows Hudson how to have fun and not take life so seriously. Hudson falls for Lilliam hook, line and sinker. But Lillian knows she can't trust a North ... after all, in her experience the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.

I received an early copy courtesy of Social Butterfly PR in exchange for a honest review.