Tag: marriage of convenience

ALC Book Review: The Heir (Crownhaven #1) by Sophia Travers

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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

Book Review: The Marriage Effect (Washington Wolves #3) by Karla Sorensen

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 300 pages
Author: Karla Sorensen
Publisher: Dutch Girl Publishing
Release Date: June 12th, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Logan Ward doesn’t want any more women in his life.

Being a football player and legal guardian to his four younger sisters means his playbook is full. However, one of them just landed in the hospital, which gives his brother the shot he needs to challenge Logan for custody.

Legal counsel says there’s only one thing Logan can do—find himself a wife.

Paige McKinney doesn’t always think things through.

Like walking away from her modeling career without a thought of what might come next. She really doesn’t think it through when she proclaims herself Logan’s fiancé at the hospital, simply because the sexy—albeit grumpy—football player forgot his cell phone at a party and security won’t let her pass. It’s not her fault it was overheard by the worst possible person.

A bargain is struck, and a fake marriage is the perfect solution. But the simple solution creates a whole new problem: they’re not as different as they seem. The reluctant groom has fire inside him, and his impetuous bride is about to light the match.

BEST OF THE BUNCH.

After not loving the first in the series it was recommended that I try this one, and they were right! I enjoyed this one so much more. Marriage of convenience for the win. ALWAYS.

I really liked the chemistry between Paige and Logan. There’s an immediate heat there and a willingness to help each other out in both of their respective predicaments. I looooved the relationships built between Paige and Logan’s sisters. It felt very true to nature and the ups and downs of emotions and building connections and growing up.

There was something still missing for me in the romance. I think with the short nature I’m missing those last extra pages that build out the romance a little more for me. I did think it had a great slow burn and I loved seeing them finally give in to each other.

It’s a fast read, it has the football content and was exactly the binge listen I needed.

Overall audience notes:

  • Sports Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2-3 open; moderate/high explicit
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: parental abandonment (side characters), custody battle for children, discussions on weight and modeling career

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Book Review: A Cowboy for Keeps (Colorado Cowboys #1) by Jody Hedlund

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Historical Western Romance
Length: 341 pages
Author: Jody Hedlund
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: January 15th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Greta Nilsson’s trip west to save her ailing little sister, Astrid, could not have gone more wrong. First, bandits hold up her stagecoach, stealing all her money. Then, upon arriving in Fairplay, Colorado, she learns the man she was betrothed to as a mail-order bride has died. Homeless, penniless, and jobless, Greta and her sister are worse off than when they started.

Wyatt McQuaid is struggling to get his new ranch up and running and is in town to purchase cattle when the mayor proposes the most unlikely of bargains. He’ll invest in a herd of cattle for Wyatt’s ranch if Wyatt agrees to help the town become more respectable by marrying and starting a family with Greta. But when old insecurities and surprising revolutions arise, can a union born out of desperation survive?

GIRL STOP.

I’m still on a quest to find a western cowboy romance that moves my soul. This was good, but there was one major element that brought this book down two stars y’all.

And that would be our female main character: Greta. She would NOT STOP COMPLAINING. Her entire inner monologue surrounded her not being a burden, and I can understand that in the beginning where we’re setting up for character growth arcs. What I can’t get past is that this still went on until the last pages when Wyatt is like, I LOVE YOU, and Greta is still saying, are you sure I won’t be a burden?? If you’ve read the book you would know both sides were OBVIOUSLY past this type of conversation.

Otherwise, loved the setting. Tiny historical Colorado town. There’s some faith elements that I don’t think were heavy handed either that I enjoyed. I did think Greta’s sister came off a bit young for her supposed age but I did like the aspects she added to the story.

I’m going to try book two, we’ll see what happens next.

Overall audience notes:

  • Western Cowboy Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, animal violence, a child with consumption, robbery at gunpoint

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ARC Book Review: Would You Rather by Allison Ashley

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Allison Ashley
Publisher: MIRA
Release Date: August 23rd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Noah and Mia have always been best friends, and their friendship is the most important thing to them. Life is going great for Noah and he’s up for a promotion in a job he loves. But Mia’s life is on hold as she awaits a kidney transplant. She’s stuck in a dead-end job and, never wanting to be a burden, has sworn off all romance. So when the chance of a lifetime comes to go back to school and pursue her dream, it’s especially painful to pass up. She can’t quit her job or she’ll lose the medical insurance she so desperately needs.

To support her, Noah suggests they get married—in name only—so she can study full-time and still keep the insurance. It’s a risk to both of them, with jobs, health and hearts on the line, and they’ll need to convince suspicious coworkers and nosy roommates that they’re the real deal. But if they can let go of all the baggage holding them back, they might realize that they would rather be together forever.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC.

I’M NOT CRYING.

Uh, who knew this book would make me tear up? Some of those conversations before the final reckoning had my eyes a bit misty. THE EMOTIONS.

I was in love with this book from the get-go. Marriage of convenience where the guy is completely in love her? OH MY GOSH YES PLEASE. I love that this was dual POV and getting to see both Mia and Noah’s take on what was happening.

Noah was my absolute favorite. I loved watching love Mia in all of these small ways. And those heated kisses had me melting. Good heavens those scenes were stellar. I thought he also exhibited growth too. He had more demons than he realized he needed to work through and gratefully many people in his life helped him realize that.

I struggled with Mia’s character at times because I thought she deserved to let others love her and it was frustrating watching her push away over and over. When I thought this would be a reason I lowered my rating some key moments had my eyes opening and I felt like I understood. Mia and Noah were always inevitable it just took some time to get there.

The surrounding story was amazing. This is actually my second transplant romance this year and I loved how this worked out too. The side characters made me smile and there were enough forced proximity and kisses that had to happen in front of others to bring about all the things I love about this trope.

READ IT.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: a little strong
  • Romance: fade to black & closed-door
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a sibling (car wreck, recounted), kidney transplant, estranged parents, grief and loss depiction

AUTHOR BIO:

Allison Ashley is a science geek who enjoys coffee, craft beer, baking, and love stories. When she’s not working at her day job as a clinical oncology pharmacist, she pens contemporary romances, usually with a medical twist. She lives in Oklahoma with her family and beloved rescue dog.

Author Website
Twitter: @AllisonAuthor
Facebook: Author Allison Ashley
Instagram: @authorallisonashley
Goodreads

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