When this book came up as being available for a blog tour I immediately said yes because Amy Andrews is an Aussie and I try to support Aussie authors as much as I can, and I have read her books before. If I am going to be totally truthful, I never even read the blurb. I then missed adding it to my tour list so kind of forgot that the tour date was coming up.

We are going on holidays in the next few days and I have been reading away trying to get all my reviews written before we leave. I was therefore quite surprised when I realised on Monday that I still needed to read this! I was even more surprised when I realised that this book is set on a cruise ship (we are going on a cruise), and that the ship is called Hellenic Spirit (our ship is called Spirit too but with a real cruise line). That's probably where the similarities end. The Hellenic Spirit is sailing the Mediterranean and we are doing Japan and Korea. Oh, and I am not going to be falling in love with an undercover billionaire. I am pretty sure my husband would be pretty upset at me if that were to happen.

Ari Callisthenes is the CFO of his family's shipping line. He is on board the Hellenic Spirit undercover because it is a ship that doesn't perform as well as the other ships in the line, whether you are talking about customer satisfaction, repeat business, or staff turnover. He has been sent by his brother, the CEO, to find out what is going on. Because he is undercover he is even staying in an inside cabin - no luxury suite here. Part of the reason that he has been nominated for this job is because his family think he needs a holiday as he suffered a terrible tragedy a few years before and has thrown himself into work ever since.

Australian Kelsey Armitage has been working on cruise lines for 6 years. Her plan is for one more year and then she will have saved enough money to be able to buy a cottage in a small seaside country town with her mum. Of course, she would have been able to do this a lot earlier if her love rat ex boyfriend had not stolen her savings all those years before. In doing so, he also stole her ability to trust in men.

When Ari meets Kelsey, sparks fly, which is unusual for both of them. Kelsey is usually pretty good at sticking to the no fraternisation with passengers rule, but she just can't seem to resist Ari. And Ari is writing a report on what is going wrong on the ship in terms of health and safety, interpersonal relationships, and yet he also can't resist Kelsey.

There were a couple of things that I had to just let go which enabled me to really enjoy this book, and I sped through it in a couple of hours. I kind of struggled with the idea that no one on board the ship would recognise Ari. I got that he deliberately wasn't very public, and had a fake name, but surely his picture would still be in the board report? The other thing was the shower sex. I've been in a couple of standard cruise ship bathrooms and there is no way that there is room for shenanigans. Or maybe that is just for me and my husband who are both on the bigger side. I am pretty sure we won't be testing it out on our cruise! lol

I should mention that this is a steamy romance, so there is a lot of open door sex scenes!

I really liked Ari, and I enjoyed reading about his investigation on the ship. Kelsey was good too, although maybe a bit stubborn. She had been hurt by her ex and it had taken a lot to get her dreams back on track, but even when Ari showed how committed he was to her it took her a long time to come round.

In the end notes, the author mentions that there is a story featuring Ari's brother and Kelsey's best friend. I am there for that story!

Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.

Rating 4.5/5

An undercover Greek Shipping heir attempts to find out why the company isn't filling a ship and employees are an issue. It's been three years since Ari George lost his wife, an accident that still haunts him. When he can't stop thinking about a one-night stand will he risk everything to keep seeing her? Could he really open up his heart to another?

A story of love, hope, and second chances in the most unexpected places. Set sail and discover the world with the finest food, drinks, and entertainment.

Amy Andrews is on my auto-buy list and everything she writes is magic! I can't wait for the next installment in this series.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7373534472The Love Boat Meets Undercover Boss!

Kelsey's focus is keeping her head down and doing her job, saving up until she's got enough money socked away to take care of her mom. Ari is just the distraction she doesn't need, but she can't resist their incendiary chemistry.

Ari's family owns the cruise line, and it's his job to find out why this particular ship is having so many problems, so he sets out to experience a cruise from a passenger's perspective to evaluate the staff and programs offered on board. He is still grieving the death of his wife and is absolutely not ready to move on yet. But he can't resist his attraction to Kelsey, even when he knows that she'll hate him when she discovers the truth.

Amy Andrews really knows how to write steamy love scenes and delectable romantic tension. This book has perhaps the best shower sex scene I've ever read, yet their emotional connection was even hotter. I loved getting to know these characters and fell in love with them both from the start.

My only disappointment was with the unrealistically long time gap between the third act breakup and their eventual reconciliation. One wonders about the true depth of their feelings if they both can go such an extraordinary length of time without even attempting contact, but the extended time they took to work out their HEA somewhat made up for that.

If you like billionaire leading men who know what they want and plucky leading ladies who aren't swayed by dollar signs, you'll enjoy this delightful romance. I reviewed an advance copy of this book.

This didn't hold my attention as much as I thought it would. The chemistry was there, Ari was a great guy, Kelsey was a great employee but every other scene was spice. It would have been nice to have some tension and build up, flirty behaviour, not to be straight at it.

4/5⭐⭐⭐⭐
2/5🌶️🌶️

What to Expect:
🛳️Billionaire Romance
🌊Forbidden Romance
🛳️No Strings Attached
🌊Boss/Owner x Employee
🛳️Cinderella Trope
🌊Cruise Ship
🛳️“I Don’t Do Relationships!”
🌊Alpha Hero

I knew from the first chapter that Undercover Billionaire was going to be one of those reads, I couldn’t stop. The chemistry between Ari and Kelsey? Off the STEAMYYYY. Their banter, the instant attraction, and the tension building with every interaction had me reeling to see what would go down between them (lots of foreshadowing, but not in the annoying way!). Amy Andrews did such a great job making their connection feel natural, not forced, which made every stolen moment between them even more HOTTT. And let’s be honest—Ari answering the door in nothing but a towel multiple times was a genius move… we all love to drool over a smexyyy man in a towel!

One thing I especially loved was how Kelsey was written. She’s not your stereotypical romance FMC—she’s a curvy, hardworking bartender with real insecurities and everyday struggles. She’s not supermodel perfect, and that made her so much more relatable. Her dreams, her resilience, and her no-nonsense attitude made me root for her even more. The cruise ship setting was also such a fun backdrop, adding an extra layer of escapism with all the glitzy, sun-soaked locations (seriously, I want to book a trip ASAP).

Beyond the romance, I could tell Andrews put a lot of TLC into the story. There were deeper themes woven in—betrayal, class differences, workplace ethics—all without taking away from the sizzling romance, or letting the romance overtake the plot. And while Ari’s big secret was bound to explode, I appreciated how the fallout was handled in a way that felt real, not rushed… not all is instantly forgiven. The ending was so satisfying, giving us that well-earned ending without surpassing the struggles it took to get there.

I love anything by Amy Andrews, and this book was no exception. Neither Ari and Kelsey can resist their attraction to one another even though they each know their relationship is taboo (crew/client, boss/crew.) Despite this they embark on a steamy affair for the duration of the cruise, which inevitably fell apart once the truth of who he is was discovered. The HEA was perfect - I loved how Ari approached it, showing Kelsey who he really was.

I love anything by Amy Andrews, and this book was no exception. Neither Ari and Kelsey can resist their attraction to one another even though they each know their relationship is taboo (crew/client, boss/crew.) Despite this they embark on a steamy affair for the duration of the cruise, which inevitably fell apart once the truth of who he is was discovered. The HEA was perfect - I loved how Ari approached it, showing Kelsey who he really was.

I love anything by Amy Andrews, and this book was no exception. Neither Ari and Kelsey can resist their attraction to one another even though they each know their relationship is taboo (crew/client, boss/crew.) Despite this they embark on a steamy affair for the duration of the cruise, which inevitably fell apart once the truth of who he is was discovered. The HEA was perfect - I loved how Ari approached it, showing Kelsey who he really was.

This was a well written book and I very much enjoyed it. Hidden identity, and some "I never do this" was a little expected but overall I loved the relationship and had a fun time getting lost on the cruise shit with Ari and Kelsey.

I really like this book it was a great tale with good characters and settings. I received a review copy from NetGalley but the views and opinions expressed herein are my own.

This steamy romance novel was a fun read that I was able to read quickly. I haven't read the author before but I liked the writing and I enjoyed the characters relationship.

If you enjoy Billionaire romance and the Cinderella story this is a good choice for you.

This book is hot, steamy, forbidden and just meant to be enjoyed. What more can you ask for, but a cruise ship, a hot man and a woman who played by the rules, but is willing to put herself on the line for this passenger.

I don’t usually read romance novels but when I do I often enjoy them. Even though I often find them predictable and a big formulaic. This one was no different. You know how it’s going to turn out but it is still interesting to read it.

A rich cruise ship company owner posing as a passenger and an employee. They fall fast for each other.

Naturally there are misunderstandings etc but will they be worked through?

There is a lot of spice especially in the first half of the book. It gets less as the book goes on. The second half has more story and less spice.

Overall, this was a quick read that I enjoyed. If you like romances that have spice content then you will enjoy this one.

Having her trust and heart broken was sad
But working on a cruise ship isn't so bad!
Kelsey is determined not to fall again
Doing so causes too much pain.

When a passenger proves irresistible
She's convinced a one-night stand then they'll be through
But attraction builds as they discover
And they can't resist temptation of one another.

However, the stranger has secrets of his own
He's undercover- and doesn't want his cover blown!
Their romance is totally against company rules
But somehow that only their relationship fuels!

A steamy forbidden romance
With them both taking a chance.
However what happens when she finds out
Who he is and what he's about?

A great, fun romance that takes you away
Brilliant to read, whatever the weather or day!
For my copy of this book I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Ari is a Greek-born London-based billionaire who goes undercover on one of the cruise ships his family owns to find out why it's underperforming compared to their other ships. He's also a widower, having lost his wife in a car accident three years earlier. Kelsey is an employee of the cruise ship who's saving up her money to return home and help her mother in Australia. She's headstrong and feisty and has a good moral compass. When these two meet, sparks fly all over the place and eventually they fall right into bed. It's the perfect setup for a forbidden romance and all the spice. And boy, does this book have a ton of spice, like 35% of the book is spice that I sometimes had to skim through the bits to get back to the plot. But that's a minor thing. I like the way the author handled Ari's grief as well as the way he handles certain workplace events, making Ari an amazing character overall. Kelsey's character was a bit over the top sometimes but I chalked it up to her feisty character.

4.5 stars!

Ari is the not-well-known brother. He went on a cruise to find out why one of their ships wasn't doing well. Too many open berths, and it wasn't making the cash flow it should have. He is a widower, still mourning his wife. He was on the cruise to work. Nothing more.

Then he ran into Kelsey, who is hard at work, earning a living behind an onboard bar. She lost her inheritance and had been with the cruise line for 7 years. One more year and she'd make her goal to provide for herself and her going-blind mother.

She'd sworn off men because of her thieving former lover. Until she tested fate and slept with Ari. Each was infatuated with each other. It was a firing offense. Was it worth it?

Lordy, Amy Andrews knows how to write an exciting sex scene. Or maybe a whole book full of them.

I generally don't like billionaire stories. Guys living the high life and thrilling the women with luxury. But Ari is buried in his grief and nothing else matters to him. You'll see him in a T-shirt and board shorts. Or a towel. Great story.

A driven and grieving billionaire travels on one of his family's cruise liners to discover why it is losing money. His attraction to Kelsey is immediate and surprising as he is still coming to terms with the loss of his wife. The sizzling passion that follows has its roots in emotion, and Ari and Kelsey soon realise that this is more than a one-night experience. Ari is easy to like, as is Kelsey. When Ari confesses the undercover aspect of his role, Kelsey is unforgiving, and her inability to forgive and risk her heart again threatens their relationship. I like the emotional journey the story takes the couple on, their passionate affair and the romantic conclusion.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Undercover Billionaire by Amy Andrews, is a sizzling, steamy, emotional, billionaire, forbidden, instant attraction romance story with humor, and secrets. Ari and Kelsey had an instant attraction to one another despite both strongly being opposed to a relationship. Ari is still feeling heartbreak, and Kelsey is still feeling her resentment from getting burned by an ex. Taking place on a cruise ship, Ari Calliisthenes, part of a wealthy family and one of the heirs to a shipping line, goes undercover to investigate a few problems and concerns. Falling for a member of the staff was never on his list of things to do, but beautiful Australian Kelsey Armitage gets under his skin and into his emotions and leaving her behind was not going to happen. Kelsey has been working on the cruise ships for seven years doing which ever job she can in order to save enough money to purchase a place by the sea for her Mum. While on a beautiful Mediterranean cruise she meets a passenger who sets her heart on fire and for the first time she breaks the rules, for supposedly a one night stand.

The chemistry and electricity sparks between Ari and Kelsey, setting the pages on fire as well as possibly boil the ocean around them. It was supposed to be only a one night stand, except neither of them figured that their feelings would get involved. When cupid shoots his arrows no one is safe and Ari pulls out all strings to win the woman who has won his heart. Kelsey is the perfect partner for the brooding billionaire.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book
#NetGalley #Boldwood

A fun romantic read! This would be a great beach read or one to take on a cruise with you! If you like romance novels, you won't be disappointed by this one.

This is a very spicy and steamy read with likeable characters Kelsey and Ari. Billionaire Ari goes undercover to investigate why one of his cruise liners isn’t performing. What he doesn’t expect is to meet Australian waitress Kelsey which sparks some very intense feelings in them both. What follows is a forbidden romance between two people who have emotional baggage. I found this easy to read and that the balance between the steamy parts and the undercover story with their backstories explored just right. All in all a very enjoyable read. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC