I arrange my entire schedule around the moment a book by Louise Bay releases because I know it’s going to be great. I have read every book she’s every written and feel her writing always takes you on an adventure and stays with you for a very long time. The Ruthless Gentleman is no exception. It is relatable, fresh, and original and not a rehash of so many other storylines that all seem the same. The two leads in this story, Hayden Wolf and Avery Walker, have depth, perseverance, admirable work ethics, as well as morals and a sense of humor. They are genuinely people I would want to be friends with in real life. I like the fact that they aren’t broken and he’s not “bad boy.” They are both smart, strong, passionate, loyal, and have a fiery spirit. Even though they had different upbringings, he is from London and she is from Florida in the US, they connect on a deep emotional level and you can feel their chemistry and attraction to one another on every page. They meet on a private 154’ super yacht, The Athena, that he chartered to work on a project that he needs to keep confidential. He has trust issues and rightfully so, as he learned that someone from his company had betrayed him and until he knew who it was, he needed to take every precaution possible. This book has a bit of a mystery to it and his super smart and sexy retired military brother, Landon, helps him solve the puzzle from home. Avery was hired to be the head stewardess and was immediately drawn to his good looks, charm, and the fact that he was not a demanding snob as she had been accustomed to in her line of work. He was very much the Gentleman as the title of the book suggests, but he was very much off limits as per her work contract. I like the fact that I always learn something when reading a book by Louise Bay. I never gave much consideration to a head stewardess’ line of work on a yacht, but have a newfound respect for it. I worked in the service industry through college and really admired how hard Avery worked to provide an exceptional experience for each client. I liked how Avery and Hayden developed a friendship first and how they knew in their hearts that what they were feeling was not just a sexual attraction. I don’t want to give too much away because reading their journey and how they finally come together is all part of the fun as is anticipating what will happen next. There were many moments in this book that I had to remind myself to exhale! Louise writes such beautiful, vivid descriptions of the places they visit while on the yacht such as the South of France and Taormina in Sicily. I have never been personally, but have them on my bucket list now! I loved Hayden and Avery together and routed for them the entire time. There was angst in this book as well as many tender moments and sexy times. I especially liked how close and committed they were to each other and their families, and how these secondary characters were also included in the story. I am hoping that Hayden’s brother, Landon, gets his own book!