Lee Winter is one of the hottest lesbian romance authors out there. She writes sexy stories with smart plots. And now she’s back with two new scorchers: The Fixer and Chaos Agent. Together these books make up the Villains series. The Fixer sold more in pre-orders than any other title lesbian publishing house Ylva has yet released. But what makes the Villains books so delicious?
The premise. A kind-hearted activist is hired by a corporate villain. Her mission? Taking down the corrupt mayor of her hometown. As a result, Eden Lawless assumes the Fixers are a force for good. But CEO Michelle Hastings does the dirty work of billionaires and cut-throat politicians. She has journalists threatened and abuses of power covered up. The ugliness of her work sucks the joy from Michelle’s life. Until Eden changes the way Michelle sees the world – and herself.
It’s the ultimate Opposites Attract romance. Eden dedicates her life to social justice. She travels from protest to protest in a rainbow van named after Gloria Steinem. She wears vegan leather boots and drinks ethically sourced coffee. And Eden’s warm heart inspires loyalty in the people who know her. Whereas Michelle rules by fear. She’s ruthless and calculating. Because of her work with the Fixers, she’s trained to see the very worst in people.
Winter’s fans will recognize Michelle from another story. She destroyed journalist Catherine Ayers with a betrayal – and broke her own heart in the process. Though the Villains books can be read alone, they’re set in the same world as On the Record. And reading all four books brings home the near-miracle Winter has pulled off with Michelle’s redemption arc. For all Michelle’s faults, it’s impossible not to feel sympathy for her.
And Michelle’s relationship with Eden is a gorgeous slow-burn. To begin with, both women are in serious denial about the attraction between them. Michelle’s afraid to let herself hope that someone as honest and good as Eden could want her. And Eden’s never worked in an office before, but she knows that getting the hots for your boss is a bad idea. The pacing of this romance over two books allows them both to grow enough that it feels totally believable.
The relationship isn’t the only reason readers will keep turning the page. Before her life as a lesfic writer, Winter was an award-winning journalist. Her deep understanding of media, politics, and how power is structured all enrich these books. The Villains series isn’t just a compelling romance – it’s a slick political thriller. Like Scandal if Olivia Pope was sapphic.
With mystery after mystery to unravel, the Villains books are gripping from start to finish. The contain a deeply satisfying love story. And the hype surrounding their release is fully deserved.
The Fixer and Chaos Agent are now available directly from Ylva, and elsewhere.
