This Is Fate: The Grumpy Billionaire

Written by Zee Irwin

Narrated by Matt Haynes

Our attraction was undeniable. Our chemistry red-hot. Would we break our self-made rules and let passion seal the deal?

I had no faith in love. As a high-flying, bosshole, billionaire divorce attorney, I knew from both personal and professional experience that almost all perfect affairs ended in expensive disasters. But the way the attractive graduate student, Maddie McComber, caught my eye at a Harvard Law School event, if I didn’t know any better, I would think I fell in love with her at first sight. If I even believed in that sort of thing.

Befriending her later at the Irish pub she worked at, with pressure from my Irish mother, had me totally hooked. Despite our age difference, Maddie was everything I desired, even though my heart remained mired in a vow from a painful event in my past.

I long ago swore an oath to stay single, and she didn't need any distractions from her studies. So why did we break each other’s rules, heading toward something that looked like happily ever after?

Read This Is Fate, the steamy standalone story in the Fated Loves contemporary romance collection by USA Today Best-selling Author, Zee Irwin.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CER Creative Company Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Mar 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669683520

Reviews for This Is Fate

[Kelly Allenby · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was my first Zee Irwin book but it won’t be my last. I really enjoyed the story. It’s a relatively quick listen at almost 5 hours. But a lot is packed into that time.

If you love a bit of an age gap. A possessive hero who needs to overcome his past hurts, and a strong heroine, who knows what she wants. Then you will love Daniel and Maddie’s story. The sparks fly when these two meet, and it is more of a slow burn, but once that tension (that bleeds through the page) becomes too much, it’s explosive.

A definite must read. I look forward to more from this author.

Matt Haynes performed this book really well. He had his work cut out for him because the book is dual POV. Casting a single narrator for dual POV is always a difficult one, on the one hand you don’t have to worry about the voices sounding different, but on the other, the narrator you choose needs to have a strong voice for the opposite sex. Unfortunately, I don’t think it works too well for this book. During Daniel’s chapters everything sounded fine, and I enjoyed his performance immensely. However, when it came to Maddie’s chapters there just wasn’t enough of a feminine flare for me to get as connected or invested. Overall, it was an enjoyable listen, and I give the performance 4 stars. But I do hope future books will have two narrators.

[Sally Schmidt · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This Is Fate is a great listen. Rich (very rich) guy with some hang-ups and history and a very pessimistic outlook on love, and a grad student, some hang-ups and history of her own but a very different outlook on love. If it comes along and the timing is right . . . . The story starts out strong and just keeps getting better, in large part thanks to Matt Haynes’ excellent narration.

The first words we hear out of Daniel’s mouth confirm that he is a cocky, arrogant, rich guy with an attitude, certain he knows what’s best not only for himself but for everyone else. It doesn’t take long, though, until that tough guy who-cares-not-me façade begins to crack, and narrator Haynes does an wonderful job of portraying both Daniel’s cockiness and then his slow melt.

Maddie is intrigued when Daniel comes into the bar but intends to stick to her don’t get involved with the customers rule. She suspects there may be more than what he lets everyone see but she’s got to finish school and take care of herself so bar banter is her limit. Daniel, however, is more or less struck by lightning from the first time he lays eyes on her. Naturally, he won’t admit it. Actually, it’s doubtful he even realizes it. He admits to himself that he is drawn to her but he has rules, too. No involvement, no commitment, therefore no danger of losing your heart or inflicting pain on someone else. Love ‘em and leave ‘em. Or more accurately, spend one night with ‘em and leave ‘em. He’s a handsome billionaire with no shortage of available women, so his plan must be working, the rules must make sense, right? Hmmm, we’ll see about that.

As she gets to know Daniel and glimpses what’s beneath the mask he hides behind, Maddie realizes he’s a good man, caring, loyal, and generous. Her heart might be in a bit of jeopardy here. Daniel persists in thinking he just wants to help her because she works so hard and she’s so much fun to talk to at the bar. Okay, if you say so, Daniel. They are presented as a grad student and an older man but there’s only about eight years difference in their ages. Enough for him to be established and settled – or stuck in his stubborn rules and fears, and it’s a joy watching the effect she has on him. Maddie is like waves on the shore to Daniel, just washing over him and scouring these protective layers away. And even in the face of some weak moments, he still thinks he’s maintaining control.

Author Zee Irwin does a delightful job with the slow, tortuous dance going on. Maddie at least comes to realize she has serious feelings for Daniel, but he’s a stubborn man. His “Oh, fudge!” moments when he feels his rules and resolve shaking a little are hilarious. Falling for her? Nope, nope, nope. Can’t happen, I won’t let it happen, this is just like another business decision. It only sinks in very gradually how much he is doing, how much of his own life he is rearranging, to take care of and protect her. But nope, nothing serious going on here. Even after a fantastic, steamy, unforgettable night together he convinces himself that one night of heaven and the rest of his life in hell without her is worth not risking hurting her. Or himself. His surprise when his old friend violates the pact they made to never get involved again makes Daniel certain it will end in disaster and their no-involvement rule is still best. But it makes us smile as he clings to those fears; he must learn what it means to trust and to live, and to forgive yourself. And Maddie might just be the woman to make that happen.

This Is Fate bounces back and forth between Maddie’s and Daniel’s points of view. The writing is strong and the transitions are smooth. There is a lot going on outside of these two characters, much happening beneath the surface, a lot of secrets both old and new. It’s all integrated into an enjoyable contemporary story with some steamy fun, plenty of romance, and a little ironic humor (author Irwin has a knack for the humor – keep it up!). Daniel’s mother is an added bonus – go watch a movie with Maureen O’Hara playing a funny, caustic, straight-talking Irish mother and you’ve got the picture. It's a contemporary romance so we know where the story is going but getting there is a lot of fun (and a few tears) leading to a very satisfying ending. When the book started I was more than ready to give cocky Daniel a smack, but as the story went on and he revealed more and more of himself and his backstory he became so, so huggable and lovable.

Thanks to Karen White and Home Cooked Books for providing a copy of This Is Fate for my listening pleasure and honest review. It’s the first in the new Fated Lovers series by a new-to-me author. I will miss Maddie and Daniel but I can’t wait to hear more of Matt Haynes’ fabulous narration and see what happens in books two and three. All opinions are my own.

[Kristie Galindo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Zee is a new to me author and I enjoyed listening to This is Fate. This age- gap, billionaire story is filled with emotion, steam and amazing banter between Daniel and Maddie.

Maddie and Daniel have a bit of an instant attraction and can’t seem to stay away from one another. Their chemistry is off the charts.

Matt Haynes narrates the book and does an amazing job. He brings the characters to life with their own personality and delivers a lot of emotion.

[TaSigmund · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this audio very much. It took a bit but I found myself hooked on it. I must admit though that one male narrator for the whole audiobook was a bit confusing when it came to the female parts. I really liked the male narrator but I think adding in a female would have been helpful. I liked the love story, with the romance and the playing hard to get it was all fun. This is book one and I plan on finishing this series. I highly recommend this book for the romance people out there.