Beauty and the Billionaire Beast by Maria Hoagland

Synopsis:

Landscape architect Emma Treager is searching for answers to a family mystery. She stumbles across an important clue at the run-down Indio Pointe Plantation where mystery floats through the air like the ghosts of the former owners. She can’t pass up the job that property owner Theo Lambert offers like an enchanted rose, despite his reputation of being a beast of a boss. As the two of them delve into the secrets of the past, Theo and Emma discover that finding clues is almost as much fun as finding each other.

My Review: 4.5 Stars

Emma finds herself in Lousiana on the trail of solving her family's mystery and finding their lost treasure. While she has hit deadend after deadend, she refuses to give up. A chance encounter with a handsome stranger has her searching for a plantation called Indigo Pointe. It is not easy to find. But with a little help from the unseen, she discovers it hidden off the beaten path.

From the moment she discovers Indigo Pointe she is intrigued and knows this is the planation that her Opa remembers. Surely she will be able to find all the answers to her questions. But her hope diminishes slightly when she discovers the handsome stranger who came to her aide has a beastly side to him. 

Off to a rocky start, she has to do her best to smooth things over so she can have the chance to solve her family's mystery. What better way than to help the stranger get the grounds of Indigo Pointe looking gorgeous again? She'll have access to look for the clues and she'll play an important role in bringing this piece of history to life. It's a win/win for all involved, right? 

Theo is both intrigued and suspicous of Emma. Either she's one heck of an actress or she has zero clue about their families fued that has been going on for over a century. You know how the saying goes... keep your friends close and your enemies closer. 

But is Emma really an enemy? If he were to believe everything he has been told his entire life the answer would be yes, she is! But there is just something about her that draws him in and has him questioning everything he has been taught.

Working side by side to bring Indigo Pointe back to life has both of them opening their eyes to more than just the beauty and enchantment of the property. It has them looking towards a future together. Both of them are having a hard time seeing life without the other in it. Mystery or no mystery, they are determined to get their HEA together.

Oh how I loved this book! I was quickly swept away with the enchantment of the setting and the mystery. It was easy to picture myself right next to Emma and Theo. I found myself giggling at their antics and the bantering back and forth. Especially when it came to the gnomes! Of how I loved them and thought they were a perfect addition to this enchanting story. And the family treasure was absolutely perfect! I loved it! 

I only have one complaint... the book just ends! I wanted just a little bit more of Emma and Theo and Indigo Pointe! An epilogue would have made this book absolutely perfect in my opinion. You know what they say... when something is good... you always want more! We're selfish like that... ;) Hehe.  

This is my first book by Maria Hoagland and I can tell you that it definitely won't be my last! I am looking forward to reading more by her! :) 

And we all know that my review would not be complete without my casting picks. What do you think?! Pretty amazing, right?! ;)