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The Re-Proposal
Cody Bolton is my ex-fiancé.
Yes, Mr. Bachelor of the Year and grumpy CEO of a billion-dollar company once belonged to me—a charity worker who can barely afford rent.
Ten years ago, we had the most painful breakup in the history of breakups.
I picked up my shattered heart and moved on.
Now Cody’s back with those emerald-green eyes and bulging biceps, declaring I’m still his.
Not happening.
Even if his chiseled jaw, broad chest, and strong hands star in my dreams. Even if he throws his money at my charity and fosters a kid with a heart condition. Even if we end up sharing a bed.
Ignore the thickening tension, we’re from totally different worlds.
He’s powerful, ruthless in the boardroom and lives in a penthouse suite. I’m quiet, awkward, and live in a crumbling apartment.
There are so many reasons we shouldn’t work.
But when he slides his fingers down my spine, pulls me possessively closer, and whispers how much he’s missed me, all the reasons why I shouldn’t forgive him start to disappear.
Can I let myself accept this growly billionaire’s re-proposal?
The Re-Proposal is a slow-burn BWWM second chance romance and can be read as a standalone. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and, of course, a guaranteed HEA!
Yes, Mr. Bachelor of the Year and grumpy CEO of a billion-dollar company once belonged to me—a charity worker who can barely afford rent.
Ten years ago, we had the most painful breakup in the history of breakups.
I picked up my shattered heart and moved on.
Now Cody’s back with those emerald-green eyes and bulging biceps, declaring I’m still his.
Not happening.
Even if his chiseled jaw, broad chest, and strong hands star in my dreams. Even if he throws his money at my charity and fosters a kid with a heart condition. Even if we end up sharing a bed.
Ignore the thickening tension, we’re from totally different worlds.
He’s powerful, ruthless in the boardroom and lives in a penthouse suite. I’m quiet, awkward, and live in a crumbling apartment.
There are so many reasons we shouldn’t work.
But when he slides his fingers down my spine, pulls me possessively closer, and whispers how much he’s missed me, all the reasons why I shouldn’t forgive him start to disappear.
Can I let myself accept this growly billionaire’s re-proposal?
The Re-Proposal is a slow-burn BWWM second chance romance and can be read as a standalone. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and, of course, a guaranteed HEA!
434 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 8, 2023
884 people are currently reading
2138 people want to read
About the author
Nia Arthurs
165 books983 followersFrom an early age, Nia knew she wanted to be a writer and actively began chasing that dream when she was a teenager.
Nia writes interracial romance and contemporary romance with guaranteed happy endings. She loves strong heroines and swoon-worthy heroes, and just enough spice and drama to keep things interesting!
Look for the Taming Series (Taming Mr. Jerkface, Taming Mr. Charming, Taming Mr. Know-It-All, and Taming Mr. Darcy) in ebook format.
And catch up with Nia on Facebook @authorniaarthurs. Happy Reading!
Nia writes interracial romance and contemporary romance with guaranteed happy endings. She loves strong heroines and swoon-worthy heroes, and just enough spice and drama to keep things interesting!
Look for the Taming Series (Taming Mr. Jerkface, Taming Mr. Charming, Taming Mr. Know-It-All, and Taming Mr. Darcy) in ebook format.
And catch up with Nia on Facebook @authorniaarthurs. Happy Reading!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
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February 24, 2023(no rating)
lol this book was written by a capitalist (derogatory),, you can tell 🙄
like everytime the mmc opened his mouth it was like Ronald Reagan was lecturing me
this put me in a slump I’ll be reading jegulus fan fiction only for the time being
lol this book was written by a capitalist (derogatory),, you can tell 🙄
like everytime the mmc opened his mouth it was like Ronald Reagan was lecturing me
this put me in a slump I’ll be reading jegulus fan fiction only for the time being
June 28, 2023
˗ˏˋ ⋆ ⋆ ´ˎ˗
﹌﹌﹌
1.75 stars!! This had a lot of potential to be much better, and in my opinion, it could have gone much better. Both Cody and Clarissa were once much in love, but Cody ultimately decides to leave Clarissa at the altar. The next thing you know, Cody is back and prepared to get Clarissa back after seeing her. The back-and-forth between these two characters constantly demonstrates how Cody is attempting to capture Clarissa's affections even as she pushes him away. Now, Clarissa being depicted as madly in love with this man was ridiculous. Cody was the ex for a reason, and while I respect how devoted and persistent he was, I found him to be annoying. These two just have something about them that I don't like. I'm not sure how to express how I felt about the story itself, but it wasn't one of my favorites.
﹌﹌﹌
﹌﹌﹌
1.75 stars!! This had a lot of potential to be much better, and in my opinion, it could have gone much better. Both Cody and Clarissa were once much in love, but Cody ultimately decides to leave Clarissa at the altar. The next thing you know, Cody is back and prepared to get Clarissa back after seeing her. The back-and-forth between these two characters constantly demonstrates how Cody is attempting to capture Clarissa's affections even as she pushes him away. Now, Clarissa being depicted as madly in love with this man was ridiculous. Cody was the ex for a reason, and while I respect how devoted and persistent he was, I found him to be annoying. These two just have something about them that I don't like. I'm not sure how to express how I felt about the story itself, but it wasn't one of my favorites.
﹌﹌﹌
May 27, 2023
✨✨no✨✨
February 20, 2023
Right Couple, Better Timing
1. Before I read this book, I briefly looked at the existing reviews. One of the reviews hinted something to the effect that Clarissa wears her low-income status as a personality trait. In all fairness, I could see this. From the quick perusal of that review, it seems like to that individual that facet of the book and of Clarissa's character turned them off to the book. I could see that as well. For me, I am also somebody who grew up low income and who also went to a prestigious institution on scholarship. I won't knock that reviewer because I think that they have a point, but what I will say is that because I also share in this identity of coming from a low-income/poor background and being the "have not," I resonated with this fight within Clarissa. I think it's also important to understand that while Clarissa has his view of herself (and you can make the case that because she has this view of herself other people treat her as such), but other people legitimately were treating her as less than and called her "low class" because she did not come from money. I agree with Mimi's assessment that having class is not about what you wear; it has everything to do with your state of mind and how you view yourself, and ultimately, is a result of how you view yourself and allow other people to treat you as well. This was Clarissa's fight to overcome. Regardless of how good or bad our childhood was and the resources of our birth, we all have some facet(s) about ourselves that we need to overcome. Clarissa very much overcame this view of herself.
2. Cody and Clay and their use of "woman!" was hilarious to me.
3. Joel ❤️
4. While this book is not part of the seven book _______ Romance series, it is set in the same universe. I loved that because I was not quite yet ready to let go of the Farmhouse Ladies and the men obsessed with their wives.
5. One of the things that I find very interesting about Cody and Clarissa (and I would be interested to see if the two of them are aware that they have this same area of growth in common), and that area of growth is asking for help and accepting help when it comes to their personal matters. For Clarissa, she is used to being the person who helps others not the person who receives help and/or is doted on. This stems from Clarissa constantly being in caretaking roles. For Cody, the issue stems from always needing to be in control and asking for help means that you are no longer in control and that you can't do it all by yourself. I see Cody's lack of wanting to ask for help as an attachment wound attributed to his mother, whereas for Clarissa it's also a wound, bit from the circumstances of her childhood being a kid who grew up having to depend on services. We say as a society that opposites attract, but I think once you dig under the surface sometimes we have more in common with people then we think.
1. Before I read this book, I briefly looked at the existing reviews. One of the reviews hinted something to the effect that Clarissa wears her low-income status as a personality trait. In all fairness, I could see this. From the quick perusal of that review, it seems like to that individual that facet of the book and of Clarissa's character turned them off to the book. I could see that as well. For me, I am also somebody who grew up low income and who also went to a prestigious institution on scholarship. I won't knock that reviewer because I think that they have a point, but what I will say is that because I also share in this identity of coming from a low-income/poor background and being the "have not," I resonated with this fight within Clarissa. I think it's also important to understand that while Clarissa has his view of herself (and you can make the case that because she has this view of herself other people treat her as such), but other people legitimately were treating her as less than and called her "low class" because she did not come from money. I agree with Mimi's assessment that having class is not about what you wear; it has everything to do with your state of mind and how you view yourself, and ultimately, is a result of how you view yourself and allow other people to treat you as well. This was Clarissa's fight to overcome. Regardless of how good or bad our childhood was and the resources of our birth, we all have some facet(s) about ourselves that we need to overcome. Clarissa very much overcame this view of herself.
2. Cody and Clay and their use of "woman!" was hilarious to me.
3. Joel ❤️
4. While this book is not part of the seven book _______ Romance series, it is set in the same universe. I loved that because I was not quite yet ready to let go of the Farmhouse Ladies and the men obsessed with their wives.
5. One of the things that I find very interesting about Cody and Clarissa (and I would be interested to see if the two of them are aware that they have this same area of growth in common), and that area of growth is asking for help and accepting help when it comes to their personal matters. For Clarissa, she is used to being the person who helps others not the person who receives help and/or is doted on. This stems from Clarissa constantly being in caretaking roles. For Cody, the issue stems from always needing to be in control and asking for help means that you are no longer in control and that you can't do it all by yourself. I see Cody's lack of wanting to ask for help as an attachment wound attributed to his mother, whereas for Clarissa it's also a wound, bit from the circumstances of her childhood being a kid who grew up having to depend on services. We say as a society that opposites attract, but I think once you dig under the surface sometimes we have more in common with people then we think.
April 23, 2023
There’s not a single redeeming quality about this man, ris works with domestic abuse survivors and he blames domestic abuse survivors for their situation. Calls them lazy and stupid, like kys for me because wtf
April 8, 2023
long for no reason
She was left at the alter. She wasn’t angry enough for me. Lol overall it was an okay book to read.
She was left at the alter. She wasn’t angry enough for me. Lol overall it was an okay book to read.
February 22, 2023
Cody’s True Love
He was hard as nails in business, behind his back his employees called him Ice King & his business associates called him The Grim Ripper… but to his family he is Cody or uncle Cody to his niece and nephew . However, his biggest weakness is Clarissa, his Princess… the one that got away. There is nothing he won’t do for her…He had a chance to redeem himself and reclaimed her, it will be hard to convince her… but the outside force namely his enemies won’t make it easy.
Great read!!
BTW, what happened to Maggie’s ex ???
He was hard as nails in business, behind his back his employees called him Ice King & his business associates called him The Grim Ripper… but to his family he is Cody or uncle Cody to his niece and nephew . However, his biggest weakness is Clarissa, his Princess… the one that got away. There is nothing he won’t do for her…He had a chance to redeem himself and reclaimed her, it will be hard to convince her… but the outside force namely his enemies won’t make it easy.
Great read!!
BTW, what happened to Maggie’s ex ???
July 14, 2023
cody is stupid and i dont respect him
March 10, 2023
I liked the book but to be honest the tropes of poor girl and rich boy is getting annoying at this point: I know we all are open to different opinions and all that but for once please guys in as much as I love a rich guy loving an extremely poor girl and all that right now I’m getting tired of these tropes. Like I really need a rich corporate baddie and when I mean corporate baddie I don’t mean the one working for him. No. From different companies or different fields of work falling in love. I’m tired of this same story line of poor girl struggling to feed and living in a shitty apartment. Like we get it Cinderella but now we need a corporate baddie or just some girl who has her shit together for once. I mean we are tired of seeing the same pattern of her sharing a room and all that. For once let the lady have her own apartment with a good job that is not working under him.
Or at least stories where they were childhood friends and few years later the girl is successful and don’t need a savior from the man as always. Like we get it but I myself wouldn’t want to meet the ex that broke my heart after years and still remain poor and all that. Btw I’m open to such recommendations
Or at least stories where they were childhood friends and few years later the girl is successful and don’t need a savior from the man as always. Like we get it but I myself wouldn’t want to meet the ex that broke my heart after years and still remain poor and all that. Btw I’m open to such recommendations
June 19, 2023
Really Good
This is a second book that I have read from this author, and I must say this book is weeks above the other book.
I think I can tell that the author has definitely fine-tuned relationship writing end. I’m very much for loving it.
Although I did find that the heroine was getting on my nerves, with how innocent or just kindhearted, she is when it comes to others, or maybe it’s just my skewed moral compass.
I kept getting annoyed with how she kept seeing the good in people win, even though he did something very horrible to her about it for good reasons. She couldn’t see it in him. I found that very hypocritical.
I also found that she was very prideful and stubborn, even at the cost of her charity work.
Last thing is, there was not a lot of spicy and that’s what I really want it to make this book better, to me.
This is a second book that I have read from this author, and I must say this book is weeks above the other book.
I think I can tell that the author has definitely fine-tuned relationship writing end. I’m very much for loving it.
Although I did find that the heroine was getting on my nerves, with how innocent or just kindhearted, she is when it comes to others, or maybe it’s just my skewed moral compass.
I kept getting annoyed with how she kept seeing the good in people win, even though he did something very horrible to her about it for good reasons. She couldn’t see it in him. I found that very hypocritical.
I also found that she was very prideful and stubborn, even at the cost of her charity work.
Last thing is, there was not a lot of spicy and that’s what I really want it to make this book better, to me.
January 19, 2024
if I took a shot for every time we were told the mmc had green eyes, I would be passed out cold. The book didn’t need to be 400+ kindle pages but I ate it up. I’ve now read two books by the author and this ranks second.
Omw to read the billionaire dad series because I am a fan of the author’s work
Omw to read the billionaire dad series because I am a fan of the author’s work
September 15, 2024
🫵🏽
i think that i was expecting more? i don’t know what but something was missing in this book. i need to put my finger on it😔. but it was good, i loved the fmc.
i think that i was expecting more? i don’t know what but something was missing in this book. i need to put my finger on it😔. but it was good, i loved the fmc.
February 16, 2023
communicate
Third chance, college sweetheart, billionaire, public image, homeless, co-op, women’s shelter, growing up poor, mother influence, dual POV, non profit
Third chance, college sweetheart, billionaire, public image, homeless, co-op, women’s shelter, growing up poor, mother influence, dual POV, non profit
June 13, 2023
3 STARS
The idea behind this slow burn made sense: Cody was the groveling hero who had to win back the love of his life after leaving her at the altar 10 years prior, but man, whatever I ended up reading to reach that peak annoyed me a little bit. As someone who generally wouldn't pick a slow burn (which is funny since I primarily read marriages of convenience, enemies to lovers, and groveling hero books which are, to a certain extent, slow burns in their nature), the premise of this book reeled me in. But, the number of times I held my breath because I KNEW they'd be disrupted during a conversation, when their eyes lingered too long, or when they were about to kiss? I wanted to pull my hair out, because why? Why did I have to suffer through unnecessary phone calls, windows breaking, and whatever other disruptions just to keep the 'slow burn' going? Maybe that's how slow burns go, or perhaps it's because I'm on the edge of a reading slump (and it's getting increasingly harder to finish a book), but dammit those disruptions frustrated the crap out of me.
Although technically The Re-Proposal could be considered a slow burn or a groveling hero book, it didn't really hit the slow burn/groveling hero spot for me.
Firstly, Ris decided way too quickly that she wanted him back even though she fought herself for a little bit (she literally became putty in his hands during their first interaction, which is fair given their history), but I think what would've made it 🤌🏽 for me would've been if she was a little more unhinged. A quick introduction to her fists for all time's sake would've been fair given that this is the same man who left her alone at the altar and disappeared for a decade.
Secondly, Cody didn't grovel much. Buying a few expensive shoes and saying a few cute words a handful of times shouldn't have done it for Ris. The man should've scraped his tongue on a dirt road to declare his love and crawled the Gold Coast to beg for her forgiveness.
The majority of the book was honestly just the pair being disrupted when they were about to break instead of Cody really moving mountains to get her back and Ris fighting tooth and nail to keep this man away from her (and her heart).
However, to a certain extent, the disruptions disguised as slow burn make sense when you consider the reason why he left her at the altar in the first place and when you realize that Cody doesn't even need to grovel much and could've simply told her why he didn't pitch that day, explained why he couldn't access a single phone in the entire city to call her or the wedding venue to let her know he wouldn't make it (I mean seriously, did the cab driver and nurses/doctors not have phones back then?). Since he failed to all those years ago, he could've done it when they laid eyes on each other 10 years later and continued to interact as Cody tried to get into her world, but bro just wouldn't come out with it.
When you consider that, you realize that he just needed a good ol' slap on the forehead, and their problems would've been 'fixed'. His reason was valid although he could've tried harder to reach her; Ris and her mum didn't need to find it all out the way they did. That was wild considering how valid his reason was.
Still, I REALLY enjoyed this book. Maybe I'm a little too easy to please, I don't know. I think that even with the way the story unfolded and whatnot (not those awful disruptions though), their story still made sense to me (because people are weird and complex, common sense isn't common to all, miscommunications happen, and people sometimes choose to keep the lousiest things to themselves, you know).
I also oddly loved Cody's offensively annoying personality/behaviour. How cold he tended to be. How harshly he judged the ladies and their attempts to save themselves, but wouldn't dare judge the woman he loves even though she practically lived like them. I loved how he doted on her, how he would stop the world because Ris needed him, and how happy he was when she was prickly towards him (citing that it meant they still had a connection, it was so cute to me). He also helped his case by spending money on her and even giving her his card.
I also adored Princess Ris and her life and character. Someone might tire of the story of the low self-esteemed black girl who is on a scholarship, lives in a shelter, and meets and falls for a hotshot who eventually becomes dirt rich while she barely advances in class. I definitely think the narrative should be retired, but I still gobbled Ris's story up. How she 'sacrificed' her life by working at a foundation even though it meant she'd barely keep her *%& together. How she knew Cody would spin the world off its axis for her, but still wouldn't use that to hurt him, even though in her eyes he deserved it (because she didn't know why he'd left her at the altar). Still, she could've gone to town with his card though.
Mama Maura also deserves an honourable mention because how dare she make a billionaire carry her bags, build and organise a bookshelf, paint walls, and build a whole brick wall by himself for her while burning in the sun? Absolutely loved her. She should've done that for a lot longer, honestly. That was the kind of groveling Mr. Bolton needed to do since Ris was butter in his hands👏👏.
There were a lot of other (humourous) tidbits that made continuing the book worth it.
The reality is that Ris and Cody were nothing special, but they were still adorable, making them one of my favourite couples. Or maybe I just have a thing for possessive a-holes who obsess over their women and the 'helpless' women who are the centre of their worlds, I haven't figured that out yet.
Another thing I had hoped for in this book, was to experience them as a couple for much longer than what we got (which was next to nothing🥹😭). Since that didn't happen, I had high hopes for the final chapter, hoping we'd get a glimpse of them as parents to Joel and maybe even their mini-me's, experience Ris as a jet-setting suburban mom whose schedule is comprised of banging her husband in the backyard of their private island, as well as her notable charitable endeavours. I didn't expect the story to drag out so (unnecessarily) long, only for it to end where it did.
I'm creeping on the edge of a reading slump so to be able to finish a book at this point is a literal blessing, so Nia Arthurs deserves her stars, although, a little smut would've made this 10X better and would've definitely earned 4 or 4.5 stars from me (I nearly cried when I read that poetic open door scene I got instead).
Side note: Do Yaya and Dare have a book already? I would absolutely love to read about a deaf female lead finding love in the arms of some smexy human with a black card and an unnecessarily high net worth to boot😍😍.
The idea behind this slow burn made sense: Cody was the groveling hero who had to win back the love of his life after leaving her at the altar 10 years prior, but man, whatever I ended up reading to reach that peak annoyed me a little bit. As someone who generally wouldn't pick a slow burn (which is funny since I primarily read marriages of convenience, enemies to lovers, and groveling hero books which are, to a certain extent, slow burns in their nature), the premise of this book reeled me in. But, the number of times I held my breath because I KNEW they'd be disrupted during a conversation, when their eyes lingered too long, or when they were about to kiss? I wanted to pull my hair out, because why? Why did I have to suffer through unnecessary phone calls, windows breaking, and whatever other disruptions just to keep the 'slow burn' going? Maybe that's how slow burns go, or perhaps it's because I'm on the edge of a reading slump (and it's getting increasingly harder to finish a book), but dammit those disruptions frustrated the crap out of me.
Although technically The Re-Proposal could be considered a slow burn or a groveling hero book, it didn't really hit the slow burn/groveling hero spot for me.
Firstly, Ris decided way too quickly that she wanted him back even though she fought herself for a little bit (she literally became putty in his hands during their first interaction, which is fair given their history), but I think what would've made it 🤌🏽 for me would've been if she was a little more unhinged. A quick introduction to her fists for all time's sake would've been fair given that this is the same man who left her alone at the altar and disappeared for a decade.
Secondly, Cody didn't grovel much. Buying a few expensive shoes and saying a few cute words a handful of times shouldn't have done it for Ris. The man should've scraped his tongue on a dirt road to declare his love and crawled the Gold Coast to beg for her forgiveness.
The majority of the book was honestly just the pair being disrupted when they were about to break instead of Cody really moving mountains to get her back and Ris fighting tooth and nail to keep this man away from her (and her heart).
However, to a certain extent, the disruptions disguised as slow burn make sense when you consider the reason why he left her at the altar in the first place and when you realize that Cody doesn't even need to grovel much and could've simply told her why he didn't pitch that day, explained why he couldn't access a single phone in the entire city to call her or the wedding venue to let her know he wouldn't make it (I mean seriously, did the cab driver and nurses/doctors not have phones back then?). Since he failed to all those years ago, he could've done it when they laid eyes on each other 10 years later and continued to interact as Cody tried to get into her world, but bro just wouldn't come out with it.
When you consider that, you realize that he just needed a good ol' slap on the forehead, and their problems would've been 'fixed'. His reason was valid although he could've tried harder to reach her; Ris and her mum didn't need to find it all out the way they did. That was wild considering how valid his reason was.
Still, I REALLY enjoyed this book. Maybe I'm a little too easy to please, I don't know. I think that even with the way the story unfolded and whatnot (not those awful disruptions though), their story still made sense to me (because people are weird and complex, common sense isn't common to all, miscommunications happen, and people sometimes choose to keep the lousiest things to themselves, you know).
I also oddly loved Cody's offensively annoying personality/behaviour. How cold he tended to be. How harshly he judged the ladies and their attempts to save themselves, but wouldn't dare judge the woman he loves even though she practically lived like them. I loved how he doted on her, how he would stop the world because Ris needed him, and how happy he was when she was prickly towards him (citing that it meant they still had a connection, it was so cute to me). He also helped his case by spending money on her and even giving her his card.
I also adored Princess Ris and her life and character. Someone might tire of the story of the low self-esteemed black girl who is on a scholarship, lives in a shelter, and meets and falls for a hotshot who eventually becomes dirt rich while she barely advances in class. I definitely think the narrative should be retired, but I still gobbled Ris's story up. How she 'sacrificed' her life by working at a foundation even though it meant she'd barely keep her *%& together. How she knew Cody would spin the world off its axis for her, but still wouldn't use that to hurt him, even though in her eyes he deserved it (because she didn't know why he'd left her at the altar). Still, she could've gone to town with his card though.
Mama Maura also deserves an honourable mention because how dare she make a billionaire carry her bags, build and organise a bookshelf, paint walls, and build a whole brick wall by himself for her while burning in the sun? Absolutely loved her. She should've done that for a lot longer, honestly. That was the kind of groveling Mr. Bolton needed to do since Ris was butter in his hands👏👏.
There were a lot of other (humourous) tidbits that made continuing the book worth it.
The reality is that Ris and Cody were nothing special, but they were still adorable, making them one of my favourite couples. Or maybe I just have a thing for possessive a-holes who obsess over their women and the 'helpless' women who are the centre of their worlds, I haven't figured that out yet.
Another thing I had hoped for in this book, was to experience them as a couple for much longer than what we got (which was next to nothing🥹😭). Since that didn't happen, I had high hopes for the final chapter, hoping we'd get a glimpse of them as parents to Joel and maybe even their mini-me's, experience Ris as a jet-setting suburban mom whose schedule is comprised of banging her husband in the backyard of their private island, as well as her notable charitable endeavours. I didn't expect the story to drag out so (unnecessarily) long, only for it to end where it did.
I'm creeping on the edge of a reading slump so to be able to finish a book at this point is a literal blessing, so Nia Arthurs deserves her stars, although, a little smut would've made this 10X better and would've definitely earned 4 or 4.5 stars from me (I nearly cried when I read that poetic open door scene I got instead).
Side note: Do Yaya and Dare have a book already? I would absolutely love to read about a deaf female lead finding love in the arms of some smexy human with a black card and an unnecessarily high net worth to boot😍😍.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2023
This series has officially "jumped the shark" with this book. What a nightmare experience just to get to the end. Forget the kids half the time I could barely keep up with the other couples mentioned (this after having read all of THEIR stories in the series!).
I may have to take a break from this author for a while. What a shame since she happens to be one of my favorites.
I may have to take a break from this author for a while. What a shame since she happens to be one of my favorites.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2023
The book is all over the place for me. There is no clear plot line, both main characters are unlikeable, other than attraction you don’t really know why they got together and the reconciliation moment was weak. It reads like it was written by three different people overall very confusing and not my cup of tea.
May 16, 2023
Not how I thought this was going to be, but not too bad!!!
This was not really what I thought it was going to be… it took everything in me to finish it.
Starting it, the story was cute and had so much potential . Clarissa was so relatable and the issues, mainly homelessness and poverty and abuse and sheltering and all the extras tackled on here is such a huge one throughout the world, and yet the author was able to weave it all and made so good. Truthfully that was the only reason why I gave this the 3 1/2 stars because without this underlying issue, this story was pathetic and annoying and just blah. I mean Clarissa was so much this “ima poor so boo hoo 😭 and I want to be sorry for myself but will not make no effort to change or move”. Then she did a 360 and suddenly she is saved and changed… yeah right!!!
Cody was cute. Definitely not Clay or even Holland but he is the youngest and he acted as such. A spoiled bratty young man who is trying to be in a man’s world.
In any case I always like MS. Arthur’s ideas of a story, it’s the delivery that is sketchy and needs work. It was so refreshing to get a glimpse of the ladies and their mate and the kids but Clarissa’s mom was the worst. She literally made Clarissa thinks and be as she is…”misery always brings misery”… couldn’t stand her!!! Joel was a sweetheart and Vargas should probably be with Laura, that would be cute.
Again, wasn’t too bad but definitely an updated, reviewed and re-edited version is needed.
This was not really what I thought it was going to be… it took everything in me to finish it.
Starting it, the story was cute and had so much potential . Clarissa was so relatable and the issues, mainly homelessness and poverty and abuse and sheltering and all the extras tackled on here is such a huge one throughout the world, and yet the author was able to weave it all and made so good. Truthfully that was the only reason why I gave this the 3 1/2 stars because without this underlying issue, this story was pathetic and annoying and just blah. I mean Clarissa was so much this “ima poor so boo hoo 😭 and I want to be sorry for myself but will not make no effort to change or move”. Then she did a 360 and suddenly she is saved and changed… yeah right!!!
Cody was cute. Definitely not Clay or even Holland but he is the youngest and he acted as such. A spoiled bratty young man who is trying to be in a man’s world.
In any case I always like MS. Arthur’s ideas of a story, it’s the delivery that is sketchy and needs work. It was so refreshing to get a glimpse of the ladies and their mate and the kids but Clarissa’s mom was the worst. She literally made Clarissa thinks and be as she is…”misery always brings misery”… couldn’t stand her!!! Joel was a sweetheart and Vargas should probably be with Laura, that would be cute.
Again, wasn’t too bad but definitely an updated, reviewed and re-edited version is needed.
September 12, 2023
Nia Arthurs never fails to write amazing books with angst and all the feelgood vibes. I won’t spoil it, you’ll have to commit to reading it for that!
The plot - a few triggers to start with so; CHECK YA FUCKIN TRIGGERS PEOPLE. THANK YOU. This book is a second chance, slow burn workplace romance. Yah, that’s a lot if tropes. There’s also grumpy X sunshine, and found family. Oh, and this book doesn’t end with a pregnancy, in case that’s important to you. The smut is a 2/5 on the spice scale, really mild but a few open door scenes. This IS a HEA which was ever so sweet and adorable. Angst, but done well. My issue was the miscommunication and back and forth. The whole theme of this book is coming back 10 years later more mature but both characters still felt immature to me… Loved them, but they were slightly immature still.
The MC - I found myself debating how I felt about Clarissa. I loved her, but also damnnnn why do you have to be so fuckin stubborn? Maybe it’s my trauma, and the knowledge of how these books normally go, but I hated Clarissa’s mom and the fact that there was no real growth between them and it was obvious our FMC was being walked all over… I don’t know.
The male counterpart - Cody was a confusing one, mainly because his brother has a similar mf name so my ADHD ass kept getting confused. Also in 10 years he’d barely matured, simply become more obsessed with our FMC. Yeah I get the appeal, and I get the vibes of him, but he still screamed immature to me.
The plot - a few triggers to start with so; CHECK YA FUCKIN TRIGGERS PEOPLE. THANK YOU. This book is a second chance, slow burn workplace romance. Yah, that’s a lot if tropes. There’s also grumpy X sunshine, and found family. Oh, and this book doesn’t end with a pregnancy, in case that’s important to you. The smut is a 2/5 on the spice scale, really mild but a few open door scenes. This IS a HEA which was ever so sweet and adorable. Angst, but done well. My issue was the miscommunication and back and forth. The whole theme of this book is coming back 10 years later more mature but both characters still felt immature to me… Loved them, but they were slightly immature still.
The MC - I found myself debating how I felt about Clarissa. I loved her, but also damnnnn why do you have to be so fuckin stubborn? Maybe it’s my trauma, and the knowledge of how these books normally go, but I hated Clarissa’s mom and the fact that there was no real growth between them and it was obvious our FMC was being walked all over… I don’t know.
The male counterpart - Cody was a confusing one, mainly because his brother has a similar mf name so my ADHD ass kept getting confused. Also in 10 years he’d barely matured, simply become more obsessed with our FMC. Yeah I get the appeal, and I get the vibes of him, but he still screamed immature to me.
March 9, 2023
Absolutely Delicious
WOW such an amazing story with characters that you can enjoy. There is some emotional drama with a nice ending. There is parts that's funny and will make you smile. It's intriguing enough for you to keep turning the pages until the end. If you are in the mood for light hearted reading this is a nice story to do it with along with characters that you can enjoy. The babies are a good bonus. It's hot and sizzling too but it's the kind story with a cliffhanger, so if you are in the mood for light hearted reading then you can read this story its hot, sexy and so tantalizing. But it's also intriguing enough to brake your heart. It will make you grin and you may need a fan because on more than one occasion the incredibly descriptive of the sizzling hot scenes of passion. There is parts that's funny and will make you smile. It's so amazingly good it will keep you turning the pages until the end.If you are in the mood for some great reading this is a compelling story to begin with along with some awesome characters that you can enjoy. Now don't get me wrong it's hot, sizzling and very captivating too but it feels like a kind of a cliffhanger at the end ,but its not and if you are in the mood for a compelling story then reading this is just what you want to read !!!😍
WOW such an amazing story with characters that you can enjoy. There is some emotional drama with a nice ending. There is parts that's funny and will make you smile. It's intriguing enough for you to keep turning the pages until the end. If you are in the mood for light hearted reading this is a nice story to do it with along with characters that you can enjoy. The babies are a good bonus. It's hot and sizzling too but it's the kind story with a cliffhanger, so if you are in the mood for light hearted reading then you can read this story its hot, sexy and so tantalizing. But it's also intriguing enough to brake your heart. It will make you grin and you may need a fan because on more than one occasion the incredibly descriptive of the sizzling hot scenes of passion. There is parts that's funny and will make you smile. It's so amazingly good it will keep you turning the pages until the end.If you are in the mood for some great reading this is a compelling story to begin with along with some awesome characters that you can enjoy. Now don't get me wrong it's hot, sizzling and very captivating too but it feels like a kind of a cliffhanger at the end ,but its not and if you are in the mood for a compelling story then reading this is just what you want to read !!!😍
June 26, 2023
Don’t understand how Cody could’ve possibly climbed up the ladder with his lack of emotional maturity and intelligence. His emotions consistently cause him to act irrationally and he never takes the input of the people he loves seriously. I didn’t like his character at all. He never even sought Ris out— he just happened to bump into her in an elevator. He goes on to play with her bc he “loves her so much” only to dump her without telling her after doing the deed with her! What a stupid guy! Ris’ mom is right, Cody doesn’t deserve her at all! In the beginning, this redemption arc felt so promising. However, when the plot began to develop and Ris wasn’t completely safe, Cody just doesn’t know how to process simple thoughts. It doesn’t even make sense since he’s the one that hurt her a decade ago, and he’s the one who hurt her in the present. I know it would make the book too long but Clarissa should take more time to forgive Cody so that he actually thinks about what he wants and maybe gets therapy in the process. I just felt like Cody didn't develop as a person from when he and Ris were last about to get married. All it took was Ris getting kidnapped for her to jump into Cody's arms again. I wanted to enjoy this book but the characters were near insufferable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2024
I've been reading more Nia Arthurs books and I've noticed a pattern with myself. I prefer the head-over-heels-for-the-FL type ML (self-indulgence 🤪) so I enjoyed that aspect of this book. But sometimes, it felt almost weird. I guess because the ML would act so haphazardly with it? Also, I struggled to connect with the ML's trauma with his mom, even after it was finally explained near the very end. So him and his control issues just rubbed me the wrong way :( (I know that's the point, it's just my personal opinions). I also don't know if I actually 'enjoy' this as a Nia Arthurs classic or if I'm actually not a fan of it, but I always find the huge dramatic climax-into-denouement moments so interesting. I've only read three Nia Arthurs books so far but each have had it. Sometimes they feel so jarring that I don't know if it's the point or if it just doesn't blend well with the rest of the story.
Anyway, overall, I thought that this book was fine :) I believe overall I enjoyed it. I thought the spicy scenes were delicately thought out and written, which was really cool to see.
LAST THING: I thought this book was really funny for real. Like the dialogue was so fun to me, really enjoyed that aspect.
Anyway, overall, I thought that this book was fine :) I believe overall I enjoyed it. I thought the spicy scenes were delicately thought out and written, which was really cool to see.
LAST THING: I thought this book was really funny for real. Like the dialogue was so fun to me, really enjoyed that aspect.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2023
Circumstances, secrets, unresolved issues and distrust can derail relationships!
Such was the case with Cody and Clarissa (aka Ris) not to mention meddling by Ris's mother all those years ago that was part of what kept Cody and Ris separated and miserable! Fast forward ten years later and a firm who previously helped her non profit agency treated her badly to 1) impress the new owner of the company (Cody) and 2) to cover up the embezzling the soon to be unemployed manager had engaged in. Through hate mail, A teen who needs a new heart, a mother not totally truthful about her part in her daughter's broken heart plus near death attacks and kidnapping of Ris by greedy criminals Cody and Ris find their way back to each other with Ris gaining many rich and famous friends along the way. Glad things turned out the way they did for all of the parties especially Cody, Ris and the now healthy hearted teen that Cody adopted. I loved their story very much!
Such was the case with Cody and Clarissa (aka Ris) not to mention meddling by Ris's mother all those years ago that was part of what kept Cody and Ris separated and miserable! Fast forward ten years later and a firm who previously helped her non profit agency treated her badly to 1) impress the new owner of the company (Cody) and 2) to cover up the embezzling the soon to be unemployed manager had engaged in. Through hate mail, A teen who needs a new heart, a mother not totally truthful about her part in her daughter's broken heart plus near death attacks and kidnapping of Ris by greedy criminals Cody and Ris find their way back to each other with Ris gaining many rich and famous friends along the way. Glad things turned out the way they did for all of the parties especially Cody, Ris and the now healthy hearted teen that Cody adopted. I loved their story very much!
Read
August 24, 2023I made it to chapter 8 and just realized this book is too long for what would definitely be a hate-read. The romanticizing of harassment, stalking, and manipulation isn’t something I want for 400 pages. There was no redeeming Cody, a man who used children as tools to manipulate a Clarissa TWICE and at one point, actually slapped the hand of a boy in a wheelchair (who was also being used to help polish Cody’s image 🤬) out of jealousy! He used his money and influence to force her to have to accept his funding for her work’s mission with no thought to how that would affect her coworkers and the women her work helped. He sent her a truck full of designer shoes and a stylist who is incredibly rude and condescending and calls her shabby and classless and then ALSO uses her work to manipulate her. So much to hate in less than 100 pages. I can’t fathom forcing my way through more of this nonsense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2024
Dnf’d it after the first 8 chapters
I don’t like Cody at all and I’m already getting the vibe that Clarissa is going to forgive him just because he’s hot and would give her a couple of orgasms.
She’s weak and has not much of a back bone and he’s a straight up asshole ….
I would love to be able to read this cause being left at the alter and showing up 10 years later means there would be a looot of groveling …. But so far it’s just him being pushy and cutting off funding and buying her a literally truckload of shoes ?! Like why ? that’s freaking stupid.
And I don’t see how fostering Joel would help him with PR cause that’s seems fake as hell, anyone would know that’s a stunt and also how would it help with Clarissa ? She already knows he doesn’t want to do it and if just doing it for his job ?
I’m confused but not curious enough to find out
I don’t like Cody at all and I’m already getting the vibe that Clarissa is going to forgive him just because he’s hot and would give her a couple of orgasms.
She’s weak and has not much of a back bone and he’s a straight up asshole ….
I would love to be able to read this cause being left at the alter and showing up 10 years later means there would be a looot of groveling …. But so far it’s just him being pushy and cutting off funding and buying her a literally truckload of shoes ?! Like why ? that’s freaking stupid.
And I don’t see how fostering Joel would help him with PR cause that’s seems fake as hell, anyone would know that’s a stunt and also how would it help with Clarissa ? She already knows he doesn’t want to do it and if just doing it for his job ?
I’m confused but not curious enough to find out
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2023
I’ll be re-reading this whole series over & over and over, makes it a fabulous read.
I love getting lost in theses series, seeing the way Cody cared for Joel. You could see from the beginning, I don’t why it’s so hard for men to show feelings. Sometimes I feel I care to much, I put up with my ex negative for 5 1/2 after the divorce because my youngest was scare and didn’t want his dad to be homeless. Unfortunately my situation turned out bad compared to Clarissa, she and Cody realized there issues and was able to be stronger together. Myself I realized I needed him out of my house because it was tearing me apart mentally.
This was a great read, so is Dare the next one on the list for romance.
I love getting lost in theses series, seeing the way Cody cared for Joel. You could see from the beginning, I don’t why it’s so hard for men to show feelings. Sometimes I feel I care to much, I put up with my ex negative for 5 1/2 after the divorce because my youngest was scare and didn’t want his dad to be homeless. Unfortunately my situation turned out bad compared to Clarissa, she and Cody realized there issues and was able to be stronger together. Myself I realized I needed him out of my house because it was tearing me apart mentally.
This was a great read, so is Dare the next one on the list for romance.
February 23, 2023
Clarissa and Cody's Story...The Re-Proposal
Wow. I haven't read a Nia Arthur book 📚📖 since the Love Repairs series and the Fragile Bows series. I am so glad I purchased this book 📖 and read it, it renewed my interests in Books 📚 by Nia Arthur. I loved this story and I have purchased Grumpy Romance and I have gone back to my Kindle library to see what other Nia Arthur's books 📚📖 I have so I can read them. This is the story of opposites attract. Cody Bolton and Clarissa Maura went to college together and even back then they both thought 🤔 they were not good enough for each other, all the while they are drawn to each other. This story was good and I would highly recommend it. Loved this book 📖👍🏾💯.
Wow. I haven't read a Nia Arthur book 📚📖 since the Love Repairs series and the Fragile Bows series. I am so glad I purchased this book 📖 and read it, it renewed my interests in Books 📚 by Nia Arthur. I loved this story and I have purchased Grumpy Romance and I have gone back to my Kindle library to see what other Nia Arthur's books 📚📖 I have so I can read them. This is the story of opposites attract. Cody Bolton and Clarissa Maura went to college together and even back then they both thought 🤔 they were not good enough for each other, all the while they are drawn to each other. This story was good and I would highly recommend it. Loved this book 📖👍🏾💯.
March 24, 2023
Funny moments
The embarrassment of Cody and Clarissa's first time seeing each other in the beginning was way to cringy, I was mortified just reading it.
I died when Cody ate Eric's brownie and told her how foul they were. I nearly passed out laughing while reading that. It was so funny I had to read it again, and it still had me cracking up.
Joel's crush on Clarissa is to cute when she called him a jail bait cassanova, I had another laughing spell. It was then I realized this book is a romantic comedy.
I love the banter Joel and Cody had, it was funny yet sweet.
Towards the last couple of chapters I started to lose interest. The story started great but kind of slowed down towards the end.
The embarrassment of Cody and Clarissa's first time seeing each other in the beginning was way to cringy, I was mortified just reading it.
I died when Cody ate Eric's brownie and told her how foul they were. I nearly passed out laughing while reading that. It was so funny I had to read it again, and it still had me cracking up.
Joel's crush on Clarissa is to cute when she called him a jail bait cassanova, I had another laughing spell. It was then I realized this book is a romantic comedy.
I love the banter Joel and Cody had, it was funny yet sweet.
Towards the last couple of chapters I started to lose interest. The story started great but kind of slowed down towards the end.
June 19, 2023
This review might contain some spoilers... (Not in detail, but still)
I borrowed this book through Kindle Unlimited. I liked the cover (not the one showing here, it was a drawing). Happy that I found it, I will check out the other books of this author. Also it felt that some of the other characters that were mentioned were already introduced to the readers at some point.
Although I really liked the story I feel that the fact and the reason why Cody left Clarissa at the altar were sort of glossed over. Such a painful and significant end should have been discussed and not found out because his brother is able to dig up anything. That is the only part of the book that did not sit well with me.
I like the character development in both of them.
I borrowed this book through Kindle Unlimited. I liked the cover (not the one showing here, it was a drawing). Happy that I found it, I will check out the other books of this author. Also it felt that some of the other characters that were mentioned were already introduced to the readers at some point.
Although I really liked the story I feel that the fact and the reason why Cody left Clarissa at the altar were sort of glossed over. Such a painful and significant end should have been discussed and not found out because his brother is able to dig up anything. That is the only part of the book that did not sit well with me.
I like the character development in both of them.
March 31, 2023
This is a sweet and heartwarming romance novel that explores themes of second chances and forgiveness. The author does an excellent job of creating complex and relatable characters who readers will root for from the very beginning.
One of the things I appreciated most about this book is the way it addresses the challenges of rebuilding trust and overcoming past hurts in a relationship. The protagonist's struggle to let go of her anger and resentment towards the hero felt authentic and emotionally resonant, and the way the two characters work through their issues together is both heartwarming and inspiring.
One of the things I appreciated most about this book is the way it addresses the challenges of rebuilding trust and overcoming past hurts in a relationship. The protagonist's struggle to let go of her anger and resentment towards the hero felt authentic and emotionally resonant, and the way the two characters work through their issues together is both heartwarming and inspiring.
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