Mr. Rich is full of that standard sass that Ms. Depaul has no qualms about doling out. Julia is no standard Cinderella. She does not wait for life to happen to her, she makes things happen for her. Bastian takes a licking with that sharp tongue of hers and tosses it right back. The attitude is fierce, the chemistry is climatic and spice will set the room on fire. Fast, fun and flirty equal fantastic. ( )

Mr. Rich by Virna DePaul
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 3½/5 stars
My Review:

Sometimes, fate just hands you an opportunity and when Bastian Rich passes out in front of Julia Rominger’s sample table, well, Julia seizes the opportunity.

For weeks, Julia has lusted after Bastian. She’s stood by silently as he walks the aisles, eyed his gorgeous butt every time he bends over, and prays one day he’ll stop by her stand even if only to ask for whatever lame sample she’s currently inflicting on customers. Him passing out and landing right in front of her isn’t exactly how she hoped to meet him, but . . . . .

In the confusion of Bastian passing out, the EMTs arriving and whisking him away to the hospital, Julia realizes she has Basitan’s wallet and no way to contact him. A few keystrokes and Google gives Julia the information she needs and once she works up the courage, she’ll return Mr. Hottie’s wallet, check to see he’s all right, and be right back on her way to her crappy job and apartment. What Julia can’t imagine is what happens when she finally meets Bastian.

Bastian is exactly as his name implies, Rich. He owns his own company, he’s extremely successful, and he has no trouble finding a date. In fact, Bastian has dated some of the most beautiful, sophisticated women so his interest in a grocery store employee doesn’t make sense, even to him. The facts can’t be denied and Bastian has spent an inordinate amount of time in the grocery store working up the courage to speak to Julia. Imagine his surprise the day she walks into his office with none other than his wallet. Once again, opportunity has come calling and, like Julia, Bastian isn’t going to ignore the opportunity.

In what could only be described as a whirlwind, Julia and Bastian fall into one another with ease. Bastian has the means and the desire to woo Julia and Julia has the desire to be wooed. The only kink in the plan is Bastian’s nasty habit of showing her an incredibly good time and then falling off the radar for days or a week at a time. Because the relationship is so new, Julia doesn’t want to appear clingy and Bastian isn’t quite ready to reveal his secret, the secret that keeps him from further pursuing Julia and long-term committed relationship. It isn’t until Julia finally forces the issue and discovers Bastian alone and sick that they are truly able to be open and honest with one another. To say things get worse before they get better is like saying an earthquake is just a tiny little fart.

The Bottom Line: Mr. Rich is an easy read and, for the most part I remained engaged. This is a bit of a slow starter, but once Julia and Bastian truly meet the pace picks up. There’s certainly passion between the two, but there is a lot of uncertainty, unspoken words, and a third party who also has an interest in Julia. There are a great many obstacles to Julia and Bastian’s HEA, but once the air is cleared and everyone’s position is understood, the way is cleared. Overall, I liked this read, but it isn’t something I got overly excited about. It’s a decent read with some interesting moments, but it isn’t a read I would recommend readers put at the top of their TBR list. ( )

A bit of a slow start. Julia works in a store which Bastian/Big Sexy visits, he collapses there and Julia finds herself in possession of his wallet. She looks him up on line...finds his address and snigger, snigger, dick pics, and she returns it to an a**hole who's not thankful at all, a real jerk. He later searches Julia out and apologizes, she still has her reservations about him especially when he asks her out...well! he's way out of her league. But she takes a gamble and he's sweet and lovable, but the road ahead has many obstacles and Bastian shows his a**hole card again. Gees! Will an apology work again? Does she want one?
A great story, a light easy read, that's full of fun. ( )

Received an ARC for my fair review for netgalley. Julia works in a store handing out samples, she hates it, but she needs to pay the bills. She notices this gorgeous guy and her and her best friend call him "Mr. Sexy Big". She knows she has no chance with him because he is way out of her league, but that does not stop her from fantasizing about him. Bastion, does notice Julia, and he thinks she is gorgeous, when he finally decides to meet her, he faints, because he sick. She ends up with his wallet, and when she drops it off, he is a jerk, shattering her imagination of him. Bastion feels bad, that he was a jerk, but was intrigued because she put him in his place. As they start there love affair, he breaks her heart because he does not want to hold her back. Eventually everything comes out, and they get there HEA. ( )