Vested Interest

The Code #1

by Bethany Jadin

A rebel bad boy, a renowned genius, and three former Marines.
Companies are in a bidding war for my new cutting-edge security software, including the men who run the leading tech firm, Pentabyte. They're at the top of their game—seductively handsome, intelligent, and wealthy—and they're determined to win more than just my program. They've set their sights on me. But everything I've worked for is on the line. Do I dare let my guard down when the stakes are this high?

The Code is a steamy reverse harem romance series of five full-length novels with heart, humor, irresistible chemistry, and a gripping, action-suspense storyline that builds in intensity with each book and will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The series is complete and all five books are available to read now! Vested Interest is book one.

Love without limits. #whychoose

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Menage, Military Fiction, Adult, Why Choose

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 29, 2018

About the author

Bethany Jadin is the pen name of two friends who write steamy, unconventional romance together. They love telling stories with humor, heart, and heat.

Signup for their newsletter and join their readers' group on Facebook for sneak peeks, exclusive offers, and be the first to know about upcoming books!

Newsletter: eepurl.com/dgrqPL
Fan Group: facebook.com/groups/jadinsmaidens

Love Without Limits. #whychoose

Reviews

[Brittain *Needs a Nap and a Drink* · Rating 5 out of 5]

1) Woman in a STEM field

2) Hunky men with distinct personalities

3) A few of them aren't entirely straight.

4) Real life scenarios

5) Woman is valued for her smarts and academic success

6) Women supporting women (no random bitches for added tension)

7) Creative cooking that results in cute happy puppy reactions from the men

8) BACK STORY

9) Real plot

10) It's so cute I'm going to die


Onto the next book!

[★Me Myshelf and I★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seeing as I binged books 1 to 3 in a row this is more a series review than a book review. Gonna try to not include spoilers so it could end up a non-review and just plain fangirling instead

Book 1 Vested Interest ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book 2 Hidden Agenda⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book 3 Broken Process⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So overall it has been pretty amazing. My binge only ended because I was craving some paranormal after reading so much contemporary romance in a row, which is not normal for me.

I pretty much had insta-love with this series.

There was so much to love

❤️ The characters backstorys
❤️ The multiple POVs
❤️ The sweet and sexy romance
❤️ How intelligence was as important here as brawn or beauty
❤️ The absence of the jealous bitchy girls
❤️ The friendship the FMC had with her roommate
❤️ How the smexy parts were inventive and didn't get boring.
❤️ Ex- Marines and computer geeks mash up
❤️ All grown adults. some of the guys are 30+ and (thank goodness) act like it.

It was the perfect harem. All the guys are all friends and run a business together so it’s not the kind of harem that builds over the life of story. You know I love it when the harem is all together the whole way through.

Jude - The Aphla type, no sap from this boss.
Jax - Twin to the boss-man. The tattooed rebel with the mysterious past.
Daniel - The genius, sophisticated gentleman. "James Bond of the tech industry"
Trigg - Touchy feely sweetheart. Also great at Yoga
Gunner - The buff comedian. Always joking, always hungry.

I don’t think I could pick a favourite but Gunner and his hilarious sexual innuendo and goofy dancing has a special place in my heart. The fact that he’s also bi and promises some m/m has nothing to do with it



I think sweet and steamy is my new favourite saying for type of romance! I’ve found a few gems recently with authors I haven’t tried before and this is one of them. Jadin is one I'll pick up again. I found her writing to be so effortless and engaging.

The romance I would say is medium burn but it’s the plot that is slow. By book 2/3 I was craving the software selling plot to hurry up already. It was my one criticism. For a book all about code and programming there was a distinct lack of code writing going on. Emma the MC is selling her security software that is her ticket to easy livin’ and has a few potential buyers. The guys own a firm Pentabyte who want to buy it. There’s a bidding war and she has to finish the code before she sells. I thought the selling would be cleared up by the end of book 1 but by book 3 she still is nowhere near finishing the problematic gamma segment. I thought we would get some geeky code writing sessions with Daniel but nope not even a whiff of a late night session.



It is a relationship heavy series and I am down with that. But it was a little slow on the plot.

It’s laugh out loud funny
It’s hot as sin
And as sweet as sugar
The whole series is finished and available on KU

[Siri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost DNF this freaking book, but when i realized that i had only a few chapters left i didn't give up and i finished this.
But ugh i can only say that i got very disapointed in this book, i had really high expectations on this cuz of all the recommendations.
Where should i start? The MC was just annoying, she blushed 24/7 and acted sometimes like a teenager (i mean it seems like she has never been around boys before) and she did not think she was pretty and all that talk, blah blah blah .
The guys where okay i guess, Jax and Trigg where my fave out of the guys
This whole book was a big teaser only, and at the end it just finished right in a sentence...? Whut face
I cringed so hard and i was very uncomfortable in parts of the book.

[Scarlett Vora]

I love the premise here but stopped reading toward the end of book two. The heroine has this program to sell and the buyers seem split between attempts to woo her and attempts to pressure her. The heroes are in the 'wooing' camp. The villains are in the 'pressure' camp, and their goal is to leave her so desperate and scared that she sells to make the bad stuff stop. So far, so good.

Except I noticed a pattern. The heroine is one of those 'drown your sorrows' types. When something bad happens, she throws a mini-party. She cooks or eats ice cream or goes out to get drunk... and at first I thought this was pretty cool. There are worse coping mechanisms and if this is how she rolls with the punches, gears up to start fresh the next day, that's awesome.

But the cycle just keeps repeating, without much time in between. Bad things keep happening, the heroine keeps going out to drown her sorrows, usually she meets someone from her harems to keep her company, and then we get maybe a paragraph or two of normal behavior before the next bad thing happens and it's time to party again.

By the end, I started to feel like she wasn't dealing with her problems at all. The very first bad thing that happens, pretty early in book one, is that her bank account is hacked and all her savings are taken. Late into book two, she still doesn't know who's behind it... and hasn't really investigated. One of the harem guys apparently makes an effort to track down the culprit, but the heroine herself just moves on.

So the premise is that there's this science geek heroine who is awesome at coding, but for two books the primary activity she performs *on page* is cooking and going on dates. I love to cook and they sound like great dates but I lost interest in the narrative. Plus, all the heroes speak with the same voice. Kind of bland.

[Autumn Miller ~ autumnbookreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars
I really liked this book. It was fast paced, constantly had my attention, and I ended up reading it in one sitting because I did not want to put it down. I actually enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. This was a prefect and easy read for me right now.
Emma was different from the female characters I usually read. She was the "geek" in high school and spent most of her time by herself. While this is a popular trait for female characters, what was not normal about Emma was that she was developing a computer/software program. She loved to write code and being in Emma's head was a unique experience. I have never read a female character like her and it was refreshing.
I liked all of the guys. I found their backgrounds and how they met to be extremely interesting. One thing that is challenging for an author to write in the RH genre is the individuality between the male characters. They either come off extremely similar to each other or not interesting enough for the reader. Bethany Jadin did a phenomenal job of making each of the boys in this book different and she made me want to know more about them.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I will be continuing the series with the next book, Hidden Agenda.

[BookLover89 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love contemporary RH, it’s hard to find & most of the ones out there are all sex with no story. I loved that this is a slower burn contemporary RH. I loved the characters and the story is interesting.
I can’t wait for the next book!

It is hinted at a few times that there will be some M/M in future books. I don’t like M/M in my RH, I like that they all focus on the girl and only her. And they also mention a few times in this book that they consider each other brothers which would make the M/M weird.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm totally smitten with this contemporary RH read. I don't mean anything when I say that some of the light, fluffy read I've had before are...light and fluffy plot-wise. Sometimes I just need a quick read that's not too dramatic or too dark because too much angst can get exhausting, too. (That's a lot of toos, too.)

But Vested Interest is such a great balance of either sides. The comedy component makes it easy to read in one sitting but the complex characterization and slow burn of the romance makes it intriguing from start till the end.

I freaking love Emma. I think she's also one of the most 3d heroines out there. A bit reserved but is spirited. I also love how the author has taken time to slowly introduce the guys by having their POVs every now and then. Plus, that deep bond among the guys, ughhh. She has five in her harem but I'm pretty sure it'll be easy to differentiate each guy from the other. *swoons*

Can't wait for the other books in the series!

[Jemimah Decker-Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It's rare to find contemporary RH, especially one based in the IT and tech world. This took on a new theme and is giving it a really good base and building up an enjoyable plot and story. I liked all the characters involved, and loved that the FMC, Emma, has a supportive and close friendship with Zoey. The guys are all slightly different, but so, so hot. They gel well together and their friendship is built well.

There were a few hot moments in the book, but at the moment it's a slow build with lots of tension between them all. I love the build up and the tension so am really enjoying reading it and looking forward to seeing what that progresses too. For a first book from two brand new authors I thought it was executed really well. I'm very much looking forward to reading the next book.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/4/2020)! 🎁

[Claire Letnic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m really debating on my rating because there are a lot of big reasons why I want to rate this higher and lower than 4⭐️’s.

I identify with the FMC being a female in a male dominated field, let alone being the weirdo when young too. And also channeling feelings into an opposite side of the brain kind of thing. For me, I paint and experiment making 3D artsy things (vague, but long story). She is a coder, like me, but bakes and cooks and hopes for the best… like I tried to do with clay the other night… but at least we learn something, right? Lol!!

I’m bummed this series isn’t all on Audible. And as of my review, the author(s) haven’t updated their social media for almost 2 years… so if those looking for the rest of the series, despite the obvious insinuation of the whole series being on audio (4 years after this release), it’s not. And based on reviews of the text version, and subsequent poor editing….

It makes me apprehensive to continue… because this book via Audible is amazing!!!

But since lack of social media and updates on anything for 2 years…. For sure -1⭐️ if not more. I really want to continue the series… but to be a jerk: the author didn’t follow through, so why should I?

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what it advertised to be, a slow burn contemporary RH.

I like that Bethany is a programmer, a field with less women in it and I like that the book gave a nod to the fact that women face an uphill climb in this field. The men were great and didn't seem to break too much along the stereotypical lines. Sure you had Gunner who is a goof, eats everything in sight and can't stop swearing. He also is great at marketing. Daniel is a programmer who can get lost writing code in his head, but is also an great keynote speaker. You get the sense that each male has layers and you get to peel them back slowly which kept me reading until the end.

What I wasn't such a fan of? Bethany spends time moaning over a jerk of a boyfriend that took advantage of her. She also spends a lot of time either stressed over picking an offer or stressed over wanting five males then she does actually working on her code which is supposed to be so awesome everyone is fighting over it. I'd like to see her take charge of her own life more.

Oh and that ending. That was a totally mean place to stop.

[DNA Diva · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s refreshing to find a great contemporary reverse harem romance. This book was enjoyable from start to finthe sh. I love the heroine, the guys, and the authors way of telling her story. I also really like that the heroine is in STEM and the author gets the challenges women in mostly-male professions seek. This is both a slow burn, and really steamy at the same time. I actually really like the way the author managed to give us some steam without making things move to fast for the heroine. My only complaint is that the next book isn’t available yet.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[BJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow burn, the h is supposed to be a brilliant software code writer and Hs are mostly ex military, entrepreneurs and millionaires that want her to become part of their company. The h is a little innocent, and rather sweet and unsure of her attraction to all the guys. It is well written, each person has interesting history, and it's good to learn why the guys are together. Low level steam, lots of teasing glimpses of what might be good in next books.

[Sandra Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better then expected.

I didn’t realize this was a series when I first got it. I really like a smart and funny MC. The storyline is cool and I really like all the guys. I can’t wait for things to heat up as the books move on. I’m super interested in finding out what happens with Jeremy.

[Abi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book. The characters and storyline are well done. The characters are fleshed out (at least for a book one, and at the time of writing this review, I'm on book three, and they continue to be fleshed out and well written). I really liked the story, because having a really smart, capable female main character was freaking awesome! Emma is just plain awesome, and I love her! Her guys (Jax, Jude, Trigger, Gunner, and Daniel) are great, too! 4 stars, and on to book two!

[María · Rating 4 out of 5]

En general, estos libros se caracterizan por el amor instantáneo. En cambio, esta novela construye cada relación y se toma su tiempo. Tal es así que en este primer libro tenemos fantasías eróticas y poco más. Porque, justo cuando Emma está concretando su primer encuentro con uno de los cinco amigos, el libro termina!!!!

[Brianna Belbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intriguing start to a new series! Emma was the “geek” girl in high school and is extremely smart. She is in the process of writing and trying to sell her security software and has potential buyers. The owners of Pentabyte want to buy it, but there’s now a bidding war. Jude is the alpha, Jax is his twin a very rebellious, Daniel is a genius, Gunner is always hungry and full of humor, and Trigg is an absolute sweetheart. Her roommate was very likeable and I enjoyed her role within the book. I loved this book for many reasons- it had a heroine in a STEM field, she was valued for her smarts and not just wanted for her looks, not all of the men were straight, and there was no woman shaming for extra drama. Each character, their personality and backstory, was extremely developed and had an important role within the plot. I can honestly say that I’ve never read another book quite like this and I can’t wait to continue on Emma and her men’s journey!
Lisa and Kale did a really great narration duet! Their voices flowed so well together and they each managed to bring the characters and story to life. With Kale having to do five different voices (which is a challenge), some of them felt like they ran together at times and it was difficult to tell who was talking, but it didn’t take away from the overall experience.
@AudiobookObsession
*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Jennifer G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma Collins is a brilliant programmer struggling to get by while she finishes up her innovative security software. She lives with her best friend, works too many shifts at the hospital to pay the bills, and cooks when particularly stressed trying to work through a computing issue. She has trust issues since her last boyfriend/Jackass Jeremy/now new millionaire stole the idea that they were working on right out from under her. He's also the reason she has not been with a man in way too long! Pentabyte is one of the most successful tech companies in the country. It's run by its board consisting of five close friends, Jax, his twin Jude, Daniel, Trigg, and Gunner. These guys have been through a lot together, weathered some demons, and are closer than brothers. Now they have their eyes are Emma. When Emma receives an invitation to the Selsford Gala, the most prestigious event in her industry it's only the beginning for her. Offers start coming in; job offers, big money, living arrangements. But the tech industry can be cutthroat. Tactics to lure new recruits and to obtain new software are often shady. Needless to say, Emma has more than one marathon cooking session! She wants to be professional, she wants to make the most for her life with her software, opportunities like this are rare, but the offers are overwhelming and then she's distracted by the five gorgeous men she can't seem to stop thinking about.

Truly entertaining! This is a cleverly written book. The storyline is solid with excellent detailing. The characters are fantastic. The bond of brotherhood between the guys based on the past, the mystery surrounding Jax's past, the importance they place on their friendship and tradition. The fact that these successful men take nothing for granted and enjoy the little things and time spent together makes them even more attractive than their gorgeous faces, hot bodies, and bank account. Emma is a great lead female. Her mind, her pride, her confidence with a natural touch of self-doubt, her friendship with Zoey, and her heartbreak over Jeremy's betrayal make her a multi-layered, complex character. The new connection between Emma and the guys is intriguing. Her desire to be seen as a professional warring with her attraction to the guys; their desire for her conflicting with their wish to not scare her off leads to unfulfilled desires. The sexual tension in this book is off the charts. I have never read a book where nothing more than a kiss takes place yet it seems so much steamier. I love this! It makes me desperate for more!

[Raven9308 · Rating 5 out of 5]

💫 Absolutely in love with these characters! 💫

I can honestly say I am flabbergasted as to why I hadn’t read this series by Bethany Jadin before!! I was immediately sucked into the story, loved Emma and her back story and personality. I am an engineer so I love the glimpses of nerdiness in this book. I feel for Emma and I want to see her succeed so much. I love seeing the process of coding/selling the product and what people go through to get those kind of deals/proprietary information. Created enough intrigue to go with the romance and sexy scenes ❤️

I am happy to see she isn’t one of those MCs that is weak/is taken for a fool. I like that she is cautious and shy but there is a minx that is waiting to be let out haha. I adore her friendship with Zoe and am excited for her to become friends with the sisters as well! I am hoping Zoey gets her own spinoff, which would be fantastic and pretty dang funny in my opinion. I didnt think I would laugh so much while reading this book because of the storyline and the tension/heat factor. The goofiness and honest lightness that is added I think elevates this story. Keep it up ladies!!

Now to the guys....I love all of them. I think my favorites based on Book 1 are Trigg and Gunner but I already start book 2 and another one has jumped into the the top hahaha. I love how different they are, but they have something connecting them that is stronger than blood. I think they are adorable with Emma and cant wait to see them take it to the next level with her (and maybe each other?!?!). I love how touchy-feely Trigg is, how dorky and goofy Gunner is. How mysterious and protective Jax is. How super nerdy, gentlemanly, and honest Daniel is. I think Jude will be a wild horse since he is good at leading (and may be dominant, we shall see haha).

I would highly recommend this series. I am already 40% into Book 2 and plan to binge read the series this weekend haha. Dont miss out on this amazing story that has well written connections/relationships, just enough steam/the perfect heat factor, and brings up interesting and refreshing topics/issues 😊

[Liana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! Emma is a smart, talented but humble girl. She isn't a perfect character; she has flaws, which make me love her more. She is kickass in her STEM field competing against the best of the best. She is quirky and fun. She is more of an introvert. Likes sweats and movie binges more than fancy parties type of girl. If she is comfortable with who is around her though, she really comes out of her shell. She can be quite the prankster.

The boys' characters were so well-done. I'm sorry. These are definitely not boys. These are real men. Like "damn, you are fine" kind of men. Each one has a lot of depth and backstory. It shows how each man came to be who he is today. They are filthy rich, like betting in the thousands like it's nothing kind of rich. But they never forget where they come from. Sure they indulge, but they've earned it. Why shouldn't they? They work damn hard. All the guys are NOT the stereotypical selfish and haughty rich guys. These are genuinely good men.

I was never bored reading this story. It's paced well and gives you enough to draw you in without giving everything away. There is a lot of built-up sexual tension. From how the author has described the few erotic scenes she has written so far, the future books will be no doubt have scenes you shouldn't read in public. Emma can be shy or confident when needed. She isn't a let the men do all the work kind of girl. She flirts back with just as much teasing as the boys. She also has a lot of self-respect. She likes the guys, but isn't willing to practically fall at their feet. Great 1st book. Immediately want to read the next.

[Lorene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received the first few chapters for free. After reading them, I was intrigued enough to borrow the book through KU. The story is about Emma who is writing a new and complex security code. She is near completion of the code but it isn't complete yet. She has several companies making offers to buy her code. One such company is Pentabyte, a group of five guys, most of whom served in the military together. The only one that didn't is the identical twin to the CEO of the company. These guys have had their eye on Emma for a while. Immediately after the offers for her code start coming in bad things start happening, such as her bank account being drained right before she has to pay rent. The guys at Pentabyte find out and offer her and her roommate an apartment in the same building they live in. They also help her however they can. But, Emma had written a code for drones with her ex boyfriend when they were still together. But, he took the code and sold it for a lot of money and dumped her at the same time.
Emma has a difficult time trusting the guys even though we, as readers, know they can be trusted. The guys try to help her figure out who is messing with her life with little success. There is a lot of innuendo and desire between Emma and the guys. It does end on a cliffhanger, which is not my favorite. I really liked the story though and would recommend it. Because of the cliffhanger, nothing is resolved by the end.

[Victoria (nocturnalintimacy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audible Audiobook.
So...this is not a complete novel. This is a serial. I wish I had known that going in.

Re-read September 2021
I gave this a shot as an ebook (instead of an audiobook). The plot is a bit ridiculous, in part because there's no reason WHY anything happens. Why is Pentabyte so interested in Emma? They personally invite her to this gala with the intention of getting her on board. Why? What does her code do?

If Emma is a software engineer, why is she working at the hospital? Why didn't she get a job in her field? She's speaking at conferences and earning grant money...why isn't she working in her field?

Emma goes back and forth between blushing virgin and imagining orgies, so it was difficult to get a read on her character. I liked Emma and Zoey's friendship. That was a bright spot for me.

[Rena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC in order to honestly review it (voluntarily of course). All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed reading this book, even though it took me a few chapters in order to get into it. But then, oh wow! The story is original and set in the real world (there aren't many Reverse Harem books that are AND are "believable"). It is well written (with multiple POVs which I enjoyed) and I just loved the main and even the side characters (especially the heroine's bestie). The guys are very distinguishable and each one is likable in his own way. I liked that we got insights into the guys' thoughts and history through the POVs. This way we get to know why they are such good tight group of friends and it also makes them more realistic as characters.
The heroine is also amazing, she is sensible, strong and knows how to take care of herself but she is not too stubborn not to accept help. I liked that she isn't all over the guys and lost in passion, even after the first kiss. She tries to resist and thinks about consequences which allows for the relationships to build slowly.

I was a bit suspicious about Cora and Calli which are friends of the guys, but as I read on I realized that they had no ulterior motives and wouldn't cause drama.

This book centers quite a bit on Trigg. I kind of hope that in the next books the focus varies so that the heroine can connect to all guys equally without sleeping with one guy while she hasn't even had a kiss with another.

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes. Yes. Yes.

This book is everything I needed in my life and more. I probably would not have picked this book up based on the cover (I am a horribly judgey book-cover person) but I am so so glad that I was contacted to read this book. I really needed a light-hearted romance in my life today to destress and this was the absolute perfect solution.

This book is unique in a widely growing genre and I truly enjoyed the contemporary aspect of the book. I personally have never read a book about coding but if the guys in the industry are anything like these guys, I may just have to start. The book progressed at a realistic pace and I love a good slow-burn. I think this is an amazing first book to what seems to be an amazing series. The characters are all believable and I cannot wait to see what happens with Emma now that her life has been turned upside down.

This author is definitely one to watch. This book sucks you in from the very first page and leaves you screaming for the next book at the end. I could not believe where this book left off and I am glad the second book comes out soon!!

My only complaint (if you can even call it one) is that I wanted more from Zoey as a character. I would love if she would become even more three-dimensional as a character so that I could connect with her more. Besides that, I cannot wait to learn more about the guys.

[Estella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vested Interest: A Reverse Harem Romance (The Code, Book 1)
By: Bethany Jadin
Narrated by: Lisa Zimmerman , Kale Williams
Review by Estella
A rebel artist, a tech genius, and three former Marines.
Multiple companies are vying for my new security software, but when the men of Pentabyte turn their attention on me, it seems they want more than just my code. They're at the top of their game - intelligent, driven, wealthy - and they have me thinking maybe I want more, too. But everything I've worked for is on the line. Do I dare to mix business with pleasure when the stakes are this high?
There's Jude, the quintessential alpha, always calmly in control. His twin brother, Jax, the mysterious one with a hungry gleam in his eyes. Trigg, the athlete and sweetheart who carries his battle scars quietly. The dashing gentleman, Daniel, with a brilliant mind and refined charm. And Gunner, the youngest of the group and the life of the party.
Audiobook one is a deliciously slow-burning novel full of tension and chemistry that will tease, tempt, and probably torment you, but buckle up, because things are about to get sizzling hot - and dangerous....
This first book is more about an attraction between one woman and five men. This book is interesting but a little slow but I am definitely interested in seeing what happens next.

[Toma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's start with what was great in this book.

First of all, this is a relatively slow burn RH. That is there were no sexy times. Well, almost none. (I am still angry about that dream, just saying) There were lots of character building, attraction, some innuendos, but no sex. It does not always work well but in this case it was perfect. Just the right level of sexual energy without it being smut or a church reading.

The book mostly focuses on setting the scene and getting to know the characters. Each of them is unique, having their own past, face and voice, which helps a lot in RH stories. Not every guy has told his story but it was enough to pick your favorite (or as it usually is in RH, favorites).

What I would have liked to see more in this book, but I will be just as fine if it gets covered in the next one, is the guys' views about sharing. There were hints but since it has not yet been discussed or even approached as a topic, it is difficult to say if this is new for them or might cause any issues.

Now about the bad parts. There were none. Seriously. Vested Interest was THAT good.

So if you like unique characters, relationship before sex and some great writing, this book is for you.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vested Interest was the perfect first book in a great new series by Bethany Jadin. There aren't a ton of contemporary rh series that I love so it was super great to find this one!!
Emma is such a great character. She's funny, a stress-induced cooker, super smart, and a great friend. When she is invited to a Gala for code-writes, many companies are interested in buying her code once she finishes. Among those interested are the five guys of Pentabyte. Although wary of trusting men in the coding field after being betrayed in the past, when Emma is in trouble she lets the guys help out.
What I really liked about Emma is how independent she is. Even though the guys are helping her, she is worried about repaying them and not taking advantage of any assistance. She doesn't want to owe anyone and is worried about aid being used as leverage for her code (yep someone really did a number on her).
The guys of Pentabyte are so great! They're all very different personalities yet still manage to be super close friends. This is a slow burn rh, but the relationships are starting to develop.
The only thing about this book that I didn't love was the INSANE CLIFFHANGER it ended on! Like in the middle of a scene!!!! Luckily book 2 is out so I don't have to wait to read what happens next!

[Bette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Story & Audible Listen🎧4.5 Wonderful Stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Vested Interest
A Reverse Harem Romance (The Code, Book 1)
By: Bethany Jadin
Narrated by: Lisa Zimmerman, Kale Williams

I loved this book! The fascinating story is original and well written and immediately grabs your attention and holds to the very end! The storylines and characters are interesting and likable. The characters are complex are nicely developed, I am looking forward to learn more about each as the series continues. I love the camaraderie amongst the five men. They have a tough road ahead gaining the trust of the female lead, Emma. This is the 1st book, the author is paving the way for a RH Romance, other than a dream sequence there was no RH action in this book. This a slow burn and I looking forward to see their relationships grow. Also curious to see where some of the other storylines go, would love to see some redemption on the Jeremy front. Bethany Jadin, thank you for this awesome story!

I listened to the Audible edition, the narrators, Lisa Zimmerman and Kale Williams, are awesome storyteller and voice performers . They bring the characters to life from the pages to your ears. Thank you for the great listen!

Thank you 🎧AudiobookObsession

[DoubtFire · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down

So, I've read the first 4 books now. I think Book 1 is the best, and it start going down from there. Are the rest of the books bad? No. But I'll admit I've gotten bored, and I don't plan to finish the series.

Pros:
-I love the female friends. There's no jealousy or cat fights, and they have good contributions to Emma's story.
-Gunner and Jax are bi! I love RH that have this.
-It's not too insta-love, though it toes the line.
-Emma's hesitation of a poly relationship. Tackling those buried social stigmas is often overlooked in RH, so it's refreshing.
-I like that Emma is a coder, but...

Cons:
-Emma acts like a broke college kid. She could have a decent paying job doing literally anything in IT, but instead, she works as an orderly in a hospital.
-Each book has a cliffhanger, and they're literally continuations. It's like one big story is just chopped into pieces. Each book doesn't have it's own problem to be solved. Just one big timeline.
-For Emma to be SO smart... Why does it takes 4 books before Daniel, out of everyone, to solve Emma's code?
-Smut goes downhill FAST. It's what I'm here for :(

I'd say most people would enjoy this series, especially if graphic sexy times isn't your thing.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audible version. I loved the dual narration and for the most part you could tell the different people apart by just the voices (there are a lot of characters to voice). It was performed really well.

I also liked the details Bethany Jadin decided to include in her story, for example the way she described the pans soaking in the messy kitchen or the thoughts going through Emily's mind as she tried to get the smoke alarms to turn off. Since I'm also a female in the tech industry, there is an interesting plot developing through the story along with characters I would like to know more about. My only complaint is the abrupt ending. It seemed like the story was just getting started and then the book was suddenly finished. I'm hesitant to get the second book because I suspect that the story won't be finished until the end of the sixth book. I do really appreciate the "slow burn" approach and I would be interested in reading/listening to them as a set.

#AudiobookObsession