The Project by R.L. Mathewson

The Project was my reintroduction to R.L. Mathewson's writing and it checked all of my boxes—a hilarious and witty heroine, a workaholic hero who can be bossy but also down-to-earth, the workplace romance trope, and a relationship that was seriously cute and sexy. Andi and Devyn had chemistry in spades and I absolutely loved the progression in their relationship from boss and employee to so much more. It's in those moments where they bantered, sighed, and nodded at each other that made their interactions so impactful and precious to me. I also adored the side characters, especially Andi's twin brother Drew and even Nicholas who we briefly met when he tried to steal Andi away from the company and later in the end. I'm hoping that we'll get future books for them.

"For most of her life, she'd felt lost, but when she was in Devyn's arms, she felt like she was exactly where she was supposed to be and that scared her."

While the book primarily focuses on the developing romance between Devyn and Andi, it also highlights the project as well as the mystery behind who has been stealing money from Carta Hotels and trying to sabotage Devyn's position in the company. I was surprised and invested in this plot because the perpetrator was always one step ahead. Furthermore, Devyn only had a few months to defend his position as CEO and come up with an explanation for the project's failure provided a sense of urgency to the story. The character development for Devyn and Andi was done exceptionally well as they navigated this difficult situation. Devyn had made a promise to his dying mother that he would work hard and get himself out of the streets—and he did. Andi wanted so much more out of life and was trying to figure out what she wanted to do. Meeting Devyn gave her purpose, meaning, and a love that she never expected.

"He was risking everything by being with her when he was already on the verge of losing everything."

In the end, I loved this book and the funny shenanigans that Devyn and Andi pulled while trying to uncover everything. They were simply perfect for each other, especially after witnessing their witty banter and steamy moments together. I thought their relationship progressed very naturally considering how they went from being strangers to colleagues and then lovers. Weirdly enough, I never saw them as boss and employee because Andi was overqualified for the personal assistant position and she wasn't exactly good at that either, hilariously. It felt more like they were partners instead. I was also surprised by how spicy the love scenes were when they finally decided to take the next stage in their relationship. It has been a long time since I've read a R.L. Mathewson and this has renewed my love for her writing. If you love reading the office romance trope and romantic comedy, you won't be disappointed in this book because Devyn and Andi are spectacular characters who are both charming and loveable in their own right.

*This ARC was generously provided by the author and publisher for an honest review*

Rating: ★★★★★