The Wrong Wife by Maya Alden

2 Stars

Sometimes the wrong choice leads to the right love…

Bound by duty, drawn by desire. Can love rewrite their story?

Even the wrong path can lead to the right love.

Declan Knight always knew he would have to marry a Hartley.

But when the Hartley he loves leaves him the night before their wedding, he’s forced to marry the other sister. She’s not the Hartley he wanted but he can fake it for a year. Can’t he?

Growing up in the shadow of her glamourous sister, Esme Hartley learned to bury her own desires, including her secret crush on Declan Knight. Suddenly thrust into a marriage with him, a glimmer of possibility ignites within her. But can she ever truly capture his heart, or will he remain haunted by her sister’s memory?

Caught between family duty and past scars, can Declan and Esme overcome the ghosts of their pasts and find love in the unlikeliest of places or will their tangled emotions tear them apart?

There was not enough groveling done by Declan let alone Esme’s family. They were all so horrible to her and none of them made up for it. Declan is hot and cold with her because he wanted to be with Viv. When he finally figures out he didn’t love Viv but Esme for me it was too little too late. She is supposed to be a sweetheart with a heart of gold but she came across as a doormat and basically took him back immediately.

Book 1 Golden Knights

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Runaways by Devney Perry

4 Stars

Londyn McCormack didn’t have a typical childhood. She ran away at sixteen and spent her youth searching for a place to call home. She’s built a good life for herself through hard work and a little luck, but after a devastating divorce, she’s running away again. Her life collides with Brooks Cohen, a small-town mechanic who gives her a reason to stop driving on that runaway road.

Gemma Lane built an empire. Not a small feat, considering her home as a teenager was a makeshift tent in a California junkyard. She’s dedicated her life to turning pennies into millions. And she’s leaving it all behind. She’s headed across the country in her best friend’s Cadillac when a detour in Montana reunites her with Easton Greer, a man who hasn’t changed. A man who still owns her heart.

Katherine Gates has been in love with Cash Greer since the moment he saved her life from a runaway goat. But she’s learned to shove her feelings for Cash down deep. They’re friends—best friends. Until the day they take an impulsive road trip to the Oregon coast. And she learns that Cash has some secrets of his own.

Aria Saint-James went to Arizona for a vacation with her sister. Instead, she’s stuck at a wedding with her nemesis, Brody Carmichael. She blames the champagne for falling into bed with him that night. Enemy or no, the billionaire is irresistible in a tux. Except Aria gets a surprise a few weeks later—she’s pregnant. When he learns that she’s carrying his child, Brody offers Aria the chance of a lifetime. The catch? She has to live under his roof until the baby is born.

Clara Saint-James is completing a journey. She’s returning a Cadillac to California, a place she’s avoided for more than a decade. It’s time for closure and to put ghosts to rest. And it’s time to find out if there’s still a spark to an old flame. She fell in love with Karson Avery when they lived as runaway teens in a junkyard. That love stayed with her for more than a decade. Either it’s finally their time to be together. Or it’s time to let him go and surrender to the dotted lines that have always kept them apart.

Book 1 Runaway Road – I loved this one so much. Londyn was so strong and just wanted to find her HEA with or without a man in her life. Brooks just wants to take care of her and they were so sweet together.

Book 2 Wild Highway – This one builds on book 1 and is just as good. I loved Gemma and Easton. The issues they have to overcome to get their HEA is amazing to read.

Book 3 Quarter Mile – I think this was my least favorite book in the series. It was mostly because Cash was such an ass throughout this book. He never redeems himself but Katherine ends up with him.

Book 4 Forsaken Trail – I loved the fights between Aria and Brody so much. The give and take between them was fire. I loved seeing them get to their HEA in the end.

Book 5 Dotted Lines – Also one I wasn’t a huge fan of. Karson was dating someone when Clara came to town. Yes he broke up with her before starting something with Clara but it was just an ick for me.

Books 1-5 Runaways

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Pleasing Mr. Parker by Elle Nicoll

2.5 Stars

“You are mine, Sweetheart. You were always going to be mine.”

They say don’t mix business with pleasure. But I bet they never had to work with Griffin Parker.

He headhunts me to manage the spa in his iconic New York hotel,

The Songbird.

It’s a dream opportunity.

But he’s a nightmare in a designer suit.

We clash spectacularly when he refuses to give up control.

He doesn’t trust me. I don’t like him.

Until one day we manage to work together, and an idea grows wings.

And the things he says…

Oh God.

I’ve spent my life fighting back against the repercussions of pleasing other people. Yet, I find myself doing exactly that.

Because when Mr. Parker is pleased with you the rest of the world drifts away.

He tells me I belong to him. But he doesn’t tell me if I will survive him.

No one can tell me that.

He didn’t get to be one of the most powerful businessmen in New York easily.

He has enemies.

I’m flying straight into a storm.

And I don’t even want to stop myself.

Griffin Parker is an idiot throughout this book, and he doesn’t really make it up to Maria. He believes the worst of her throughout this book. Some others thought he groveled enough for forgiveness, but I didn’t think he did. The person causing the problems was obvious, so the big reveal was just meh. I would skip.

Book 5 The Men Series

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Gold Digger by Susie Tate

3 Stars

He’s a billionaire Duke, he owns a good ten per cent of the UK, and he’s been voted Britain's Sexiest Aristocrat, but Oliver Harding still doesn’t know what to do about the massive crush he has on his cleaner. Lottie’s clumsy and really crap at her job, but her laugh is infectious, her smile lights up the room, she’s insanely good at chess, and he can’t stop thinking about her.

Aware of the power imbalance, he sets out to make her his, and he thinks he’s getting somewhere until she seriously betrays his trust. So now he tells himself he hates her, and he makes sure everyone knows it. But once Ollie realizes that his privilege and self-absorption have made him entitled and completely blind, he’s determined to win Lottie back. A fake engagement might be a bit extreme, but his family had been getting its way for five hundred years, and the Duke of Buckingham was no different from his ancestors.

Lottie’s life is a struggle. She’s had to fight for everything since going into foster care at the age of twelve. The Duke of Buckingham, wouldn’t understand struggle if it smacked him in the face. He’s got money and family coming out of his ears; she has twenty quid in her current account and no family other than her traumatized, selectively mute eight-year-old little sister, whom Lottie is determined to keep safe.

She doesn’t have time for handsome Dukes with silver tongues. So she tells herself she’s not heartbroken when he turns on her like she knew he would, putting everything she worked so hard for in jeopardy. She needs to concentrate on survival. But Lottie underestimates just how charming Ollie can be. Or what a formidable opponent his centuries-old, innate arrogance makes him.

Oliver was a raging asshole throughout this book and doesn’t really do anything to redeem himself at all. Lottie is just trying to make ends meet and maybe get a head while raising her sister and he assumes a lot. He learns the truth and still defaults to she must be after me for money. He’s so degrading to her and doesn’t change or redeem himself. I’ve loved all of Ms. Tate’s books and this one just seemed like he was just being cruel. It was one that I put down several times and I struggled to finish it. Here’s hoping her next one hits better for me.

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Day Dreamer by Susie Tate

3 Stars

As a scruffy, disorganised daydreamer, Lucy Mayweather is like a fish out of water at the high-powered offices of her brother’s billionaire best friend. When she agreed to work for Felix, she had no idea quite how cut-throat his world – or he – would be. She just wanted to escape her reclusive life and be close to her childhood crush, hoping he might notice her.

But Lucy’s lonelier in London than she’s even been in her tiny village back home. The boy she grew up with has been replaced by a powerful, ruthless, extremely attractive man who doesn’t tolerate incompetence and who no longer seems to find Lucy’s quirks cute. Instead, he lectures her almost daily on her general crapness, and seems blind to the bullying she endures from his colleagues.

For Felix, agreeing to employ Lucy was a mistake. This shy bookworm with her head in the clouds, who wears tattered jumpers, carries multiple pens in her hair and has an obvious crush on him must be by far the worst assistant in London. But he’s always had a soft spot for the quirky little girl who lived in her own world and told the best stories. Well, now that little girl is all grown up… and he can’t stop thinking about her.

After Felix gives in to his bone-deep longing for his best friend’s little sister, he starts to feel more than he has in years. But Lucy has secrets, and Felix has trust issues. When his inability to trust her leads to a terrible betrayal and places Lucy in danger, Felix is faced with losing her forever. Because the new, hardened, traumatized Lucy is nothing like the daydreaming pushover she once was…

Like every other Susie Tate book there is so many emotions with this book. You will hate Felix so much for what he does to Lucy. She forgives him way too quickly. I don’t understand why he was so quick to believe the lies and disregard her. He threw her out of his business without actually getting anything from her which triggered her autoimmune disease with cold. He didn’t even think about it for hours. Considering he claims to love her it angered me. It did hit all the notes I look for in books and it did bring out all the feels so worth reading for me.

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Prickly Romance by Nia Arthurs

3 Stars

Ryotaro is a music legend that is forcing me to help him and his daughter. If I don’t I may not be able to graduate from college if I don’t help. The more time I spend with them the more I want to spend with them. When an allegation is made against me that would hurt his business will he stand up for me?

This was a straight romance book between two musically gifted people. Nothing big or special but a solid read. I was so angry with Ryotaro antics through most of the book. He uses his wealth and influence to get what he wants and when she needs him the most, he abandons Dejonae and leaves her to stress about her future. He eventually figures it all out and makes it up to her. I wish she had held out a little longer before forgiving him because of how he was but I still enjoyed the read.

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Never Plan a Billionaire’s Wedding by Julia Kent

3.5 Stars

Kari and her friend decided to open a business to help the super wealthy keep their events going without problems. Nothing will keep them from giving you your perfect day. When she and her partner meet the newest client, she wasn’t expecting it to be her ex-boyfriend. Caleb was surprised and incredibly happy to see his high school sweetheart at the meeting for his brother’s wedding. He feels this is his chance for a forever with the one that got away but will miscommunication keep them apart?

I loved the idea of this book. It was funny at times but the hesitation Kari has throughout the book did get old very quickly. I loved Caleb and wanted her to go after him sooner than she did and can completely understand why he thought they were done done because that’s how she had been acting through the entire book. Hook up with him then ignore him. I am still baffled by why Caleb’s brother married his wife but not my problem. Overall, it was a fine to read and I only really wanted to throw my kindle at the end ish.

Book 1 Whatever it Takes

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Cowboy’s Wedding Planner by Deborah Garland

2 Stars

All she ever wanted was to be with Declan but when he ghosted her, Sierra figured she wanted him more than he wanted her. Then she gets a call from a woman named Danica who wants her to plan a wedding for her and her fiancé Declan. Wanting to walk away and not deal with it but wanting answers, she agrees to host them. When they arrive, she finds out the truth. Should she fight for him or should she wait for him?

WTF did I just read. Declan’s family forces him to marry his childhood BFF Danica who is the daughter of his mom’s BBF. He’s been seeing someone for 6 months and is in love with her, but he never introduced her to his family. He never fights for her at all throughout the book. He was willing to marry Danica to please mommy and daddy for his trust fund. Money was more important than Sierra. Then to top it off he sleeps with Sierra while engaged and actively planning his wedding. The author claims no cheating, but I dispute this. He chose to marry Danica therefore cheating. He had ample chances to do his own thing, but his trust fund was more important. Sierra wasn’t any better. She was willing to settle as his mistress or wait for him to get his trust fund. She had 0 respect for herself. Once everything falls into place, they get their HEA but others are the reason for it and not them choosing each other…PASS.

Book 6 Wild Texas Hearts

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Hello Billionaire by Kelsie Hoss

3 Stars

Farrah was left high and dry by her ex-husband. She needs to be able to support her kids and her BFF hooks her up with a job interview. Things just might be looking up until her kids interrupt the interview with a non-emergency. For some reason, he still gives her the job for some reason. Gage is a driven man and expects his employees to be the same. He’s drawn to Farrah and her kids. Will they break all the rules to be together?

This was an interesting romance. Standard billionaire meets girl and lusts after her, but she works for him. She’s down on her luck and he has his own issues. He just wants to help her and sleep with her but no emotions. It was a fine read. Nothing new or different. I’ve read better and worse billionaire romance books.

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Tease by Melanie Harlow

2 Stars

Felicity wasn’t thinking when she blurted out, she was engaged. The only person she knew who could help her was her best friend Hutton. He’s a billionaire nerd who isn’t interested in more. Or that’s what she thinks. He’s been in love with her for years but never wanted to chance losing her as a friend. He’s not sure this is a good idea but will do anything to help her. When all is done will they be able to walk away from each other?

I was so bored with these characters. Neither would have a conversation and the led to all the hurt feelings. If they had sat down and had a conversation a lot of their issues wouldn’t have been. Yes, that’s the whole point of the book but it got really old really fast. Felicity also was so wishy washy through most of the book and when she was thinking/talking it felt like she was whining. It was an interesting concept, and the writing style was good. I just didn’t like the characters.

Book 3 Cloverleigh Farms Next Generation

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Sunshine’s Grump by Merri Bright

4 Stars

Giovanni is very wealthy and grumpy man. He’s tired of people taking advantage of those he love. His sister is marrying a man he hates and wants to stop her but can’t and they need a betasitter for his niece. He hires a new company that is supposed to be all betas. One he wasn’t expecting was Soleil. She’s not a beta but an omega who loves children and is the light of the room. He wants her but is too old for her and far too grumpy. Will he bend for her?

I loved this story. Soleil is just trying to be different than what the world expects of her. She wants her business and to take care of herself. I loved the give and take she has with Giovanni and how she wins over those in his life. One of the best parts of the book was Giovanni willingly letting her walk away to live her best life even though they were fated and it will harm him. I also loved the smack down Soleil’s mom did with the dad when he was being a dick about Soleil having a business. It was one of the best parts of the book. Can’t wait for the sequel with her BFF as I need to know what happened to her while Soleil had her adventure.

Book 1 The Billionaire's Betasitter

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