It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game. Cliches are dime a dozen, but this one is rooted in truth. Katie Ashley takes those words to heart and has a bit of fun along the way. Office Mate begins with a love, hate type of relationship. Thorn is a wild card. He has the looks, was born into the name, yet is more than just the gun toting playboy, he's assumed to be. In a world where image is everything, he's a lost little boy struggling to find his footing. Isabel is his ticket to the big time. She has the brains to make things happen and the looks to stop a man in his tracks, As woman, working her way up in a man's world, she has a lot to prove and will let nothing stand in her way. That is until she gets to know the man behind the ego and loses her heart in the process. Office Mate removes the kid gloves and gets to the main event. Ashley is quick with the wit and sends up the sparks in a tempting bundle of love. ( )

Isabel Flannery worked hard for everything she has ever achieved. Growing up in a small town in a double wide trailer taught her how important it was to fight for what you wanted in life. Isabel studied hard, got good grades, and finally her MBA. She landed her dream job at The Callahan Corporation after interning for them seven years ago. Now, all of her dreams and hard work were about to be paid off. She was about to get the promotion she so rightly deserved, Vice President in investment banking at The Callahan Corporation. Nothing could get in her way of the most perfect day of her life.

Thorn Callahan wanted nothing more to be a soldier. Being in the army was his life. It is what defined him as a person. But, now that his father is President of the United States, his life in the army has come to a complete stop. Being the president’s son put a huge target on his back and in turn put his comrades in danger. He is now a civilian and about to enter the workforce in his father’s company, Callahan Corporation.

Much to Isabel’s surprise, Thorn snatched the Vice President position right out from under her after their disastrous meeting outside the office building. Isabel’s luck just went downhill all due to the sexy President’s son.

Could their chance encounter outside the office building be the best thing that happens to Isabel and Thorn? Or will rivalry get the best of them?

Office Mate is a slow burn enemies to friends to lovers office romance that really turns up the heat. You can see the attraction Isabel and Thorn have for one another, but Thorn never mixes business with pleasure. To hide his attraction, Thorn turns into a complete douche to Isabel. In turn, Isabel retaliates in the funniest of ways which actually winds up bringing them closer together. As they get to know one another, Isabel and Thorn establish a friendship of sorts which leads to real feelings getting involved. It was really nice to for a change to not see two characters in insta-love. When they were not trying to one up each other, you could see the respect they had for one another which made the romance all that more believable and real.

I really loved both Isabel and Thorn. They are such well thought out three dimensional characters and I felt like I really got to know the both of them equally. Isabel and Thorn are down to earth, loveable, and deserving of a happy ending. Isabel and Thorn are probably one of my favorite book couples I have read about and come to love.

Katie Ashley really knows how to draw you into a story right from the beginning. I found myself laughing at the hijinks both characters partook in. There are also a lot of serious moments in the story and the transition from funny to emotional was done flawlessly. Office Mate is a delightful story full of charm and character that will hook you from the first page and never let up right until the very end. I wholeheartedly enjoyed and highly recommend you indulge yourself in this story. It is well worth the read. ( )