I have this weird ritual where I organize my bookshelves by color once a year, and every single time, Matthew catches me mid-rearrangement and asks if I've lost my mind. "You'll never find anything," he warns, shaking his head. But there's something deeply satisfying about seeing all those spines lined up in rainbow order, even if it's wildly impractical. Sometimes life needs a little chaos rearranged into something beautiful. The Price of Scandal is exactly that—a chaotic mess transformed into something charming, funny, and unexpectedly delightful by a hero who specializes in making disasters disappear.
Plot Summary
The Price of Scandal by Lucy Score follows Emily Stanton, a brilliant billionaire CEO of Flawless, a skincare empire. She's also a secret science nerd who built an exclusive Miami enclave with her three billionaire best friends. When Emily gets caught in a public relations disaster involving law enforcement and paparazzi, her billion-dollar deal is suddenly at risk. Enter Derek Price, a charming corporate fixer who specializes in polishing the tarnished images of the rich and famous. Derek has two rules: he never loses, and he never takes clients to bed. But Emily is different. As Derek works to save her reputation, their professional relationship ignites into something far more explosive. With enemies sabotaging Emily at every turn and Derek's growing feelings threatening his legendary control, they'll have to decide if the risk is worth the reward.
Why I Love This Book
I love that this flips the typical billionaire romance on its head—Emily is the billionaire powerhouse, and Derek is the charming fixer who's captivated by her brilliance. Emily is driven, unapologetically successful, and a STEM advocate, which I found incredibly refreshing. Derek is swoon-worthy without being domineering, and their banter is sharp, witty, and laugh-out-loud funny. The side characters are fantastic, especially Emily's sassy bodyguard Jane and her tight-knit group of billionaire friends. The romance is slow-burn with plenty of sexual tension, and when they finally get together, it's explosive. This book is funny, steamy, and heartwarming with just enough drama to keep things interesting.
Who Will Like This Book
If you enjoy romantic comedies, billionaire heroines, workplace romance, enemies-to-lovers, or smart and successful women falling for charming men who respect their ambition, this book is for you. It's perfect for readers who love witty banter, slow-burn tension, and steamy scenes. Fans of Lucy Score's signature humor and heart will devour this. The book has a lighthearted, fun tone with mature characters (she's 36, he's 43) and a satisfying HEA.
⚠️ Trigger warning: strong language, mentions of drugs, mentions of cancer, drink driving, alcohol consumption, theft, explicit sexual content.
Tagged As
romantic comedy, contemporary romance, billionaire heroine, workplace romance, enemies to lovers, slow burn, corporate fixer hero, Miami setting, STEM heroine, female friendship, witty banter, steamy, mature characters, HEA, standalone, Bluewater Billionaires series
Steam Level
The book features several explicit, open-door love scenes that are well-written and steamy. The slow-burn buildup makes the payoff even better. Perfect for readers who enjoy sexual tension and emotionally satisfying romance.
