Rating: ★★★.75
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 488 pages
Author: Sophia Travers
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 15th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two rival families. A marriage between their heirs. In public, it’s love. But in private? It’s war.
Aiden Prince is the arrogant heir to the old money family that destroyed mine. He’s hazel-eyed and sharp-jawed, the golden boy of high society.
I’m the girl who’s never belonged in his world.
At sixteen, I poured my soda on his loafers. He told me to lick it off.
At eighteen, I learned the truth—Aiden’s family took everything from mine. I vowed to make everyone who mocked us eat their words.
At thirty, I have the chance to get back everything Aiden’s family stole…but I have to marry Aiden to do it.
In public, we’re the perfect couple. But in private? We’re playing a dangerous game—the first one to desire the other loses.
I’ll never give an inch to Aiden…until I see who he is beneath his cold exterior.
He’ll do anything to protect me.
His touch sets me on fire.
His world doesn’t want me. My family doesn’t want him.
We promised to divorce once our deal is done…and we each lose everything if we fall in love.

Thank you to the author and netgalley for an ALC.

I THINK I LIKED IT?

I know a lot of us have some kind of line when it comes to what works for us regarding spice. And while I did LOVE that this was a marriage of convenience there was one issue, but we’ll get into it.

So YAY for moc, that’s the reason I picked this book up in the first place. AND that it’s a duet audiobook. That absolutely delivered. If you’re interested in reading this one, go for the audiobook!! I also genuinely liked the connection between the MC’s. There was good banter and soft moments and a lot of opportunity for growth and self reflection between the histories. I even liked Aiden and Emory as standalones too. Which made the chemistry all the better.

Many of the family dynamics worked for me too. The ridiculously dramatic ones and the strong sibling bonds. I thought they were balanced well and it kind of makes me want to read more of these books to see the other siblings.

BUT. What did take me out was the overuse of spicy scenes for the sake of it. I just don’t love unnecessary pages. I could have done with a few less and would have been more engaged with the story.

Will I read the next book?? I DON’T KNOW. I tried a new to me author though and that’s always fun.

Overall audience notes:

• Contemporary romance
• Language: strong
• Romance: I lost count
• Violence: mild