Elle Wright kicks off her new Pure Talent series with a bang in The Way You Tempt Me. This friends-to-lovers contemporary romance is sexy, addictive and deliciously dramatic.
Xavier Starks is the heir apparent for the new sports division of his family’s talent agency, Pure Talent. As a former child star, Xavier is no stranger to life in the limelight. In fact, the reformed playboy seems perfectly suited to deal with athletes who, collectively, are a dramatic bunch. But right as Xavier is about to propose to his Hollywood starlet girlfriend, she dumps him. And while heartbreak is no more severe for famous people, the situation is amplified because the world is watching, and the internet is forever.
Also watching is his father, Jax, and his childhood friend Zara Reid, a high-powered sports agent. When Zara returns to Atlanta after her own professional disappointment, Jax is delighted to bring her on board at Pure Talent. Zara never imagined she’d be competing with (and outplaying) Xavier for the same position, and the stakes have never been higher. Because sometimes when you’re not paying attention, you miss the good things that are right in front of you. Late nights, stressful deadlines and a lifetime of camaraderie come to a head as the two try to win the job . . . and maybe each other.
Workplace romances, both in the real world and in fiction, have the potential to cause maximum damage to those involved in a relationship. Aside from the perennial question of consent, Wright explores a quagmire of supervisors and subordinates, breaking up and remaining professional, and nepotism. But as The Way You Tempt Me realistically acknowledges, when you work 24/7 at a high-pressure career, where else will you find a partner?
Wright has crafted a compelling world of strong, complex characters. Our fearless Zara is no pushover in a man’s world. And on the flipside, Xavier is not steeped in the toxic masculinity that could so easily define his character in the competitive arena of athletes and sports agents. This is a fantastic start to a new series by one of romance’s rising stars.
