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Hardy Billionaire Brothers #1

Between Commitment and Betrayal

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My father's business partner will do anything for the empire they built together...Even marry me.

Declan Hardy, All-American heartthrob and retired NFL billionaire, is my complete opposite.
He's commanding where I'm cooperative.
Spontaneous while I am deliberate.
Loud when I stay quiet.
The only thing we have in common is that both our names are on my father's will.

He'll inherit the fitness and hospitality empire and I'll keep the one thing I hold dear.
As long as I marry him—with conditions.

One year of a fake marriage.
One year of living together.
One year of pretending I belong in his luxury lifestyle.

But stipulations are never that simple.
Especially when I can't tell if his kisses are fake or if I'm pretending when I kiss him back.
And as more conditions arise, it's clear there's a fine line between commitment and betrayal... and neither of us knows where that line falls. Between Commitment and Betrayal is a billionaire, forced proximity, fake marriage of convenience and a father’s business partner novel. It is a complete standalone by Shain Rose.

382 pages, Paperback

First published March 23, 2023

12197 people are currently reading
76779 people want to read

About the author

Shain Rose

20 books7,212 followers
Stay connected with Shain and check out her:
Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/author.shainrose/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author.shai...
Website: https://www.shainrose.com

Shain Rose is an author of Contemporary Romance and New Adult novels. She fights for love one word a time. Those happily ever afters can be difficult to get to sometimes!

When she isn't writing, she's spending the days with Doc G, Liv and Gray Gray, and their wild golden retriever. She and Doc G drink way too much coffee, eat way too much candy, and fight like they've been married for hmm how long has it been now?

Life is good when the kids are behaving.

On the off chance she's not writing or spending time with family and friends, she's calling them to talk. And if no one answers.... then she's reading and watching trashy TV.

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Profile Image for Zainab Qadeer - Hiatus till May.
30 reviews694 followers
July 18, 2023
“I’m treating you like my wife. And if your boyfriend puts his hands on you, he better know I’m breaking them.”

“Then I’m coming to find you, and that fuckboy is fucked.”
erm send help🥰

Trigger warning ⚠️- rape

NOW where shall I start this is a marriage of convenience with a extremely possessive and jealous MMC so if that’s what your into then you’ll love this because AS YOU ALL KNOW THATS MY CRAP🥹

This is a story about Everly who is the daughter of a very rich businessman but hasn’t lived with her dad since he left them and married a women with two daughters when she was just a little girl. Due to some circumstances she moved cities to work at her fathers famous gym that he owns with a very famous millionaire NFL player Declan. Her and her father may not have the best relationship but he doesn’t accept her seeing a rival NFL player called Wes and keeps sending Declan to bring her back when ever shes together with Wes but the question is why does Declan oblige and go 😉

As the bickering continues between Declan and Everly who she only sees as her dads business partner Declan can’t get Everly out his head until Everly’s father Carl passes away and in his Will states that for Declan to get Majority shares he must marry everly for 1 year and if they don’t get married then he would give his shares to a random company and Everly’s mother house and studio would go to his current wife and daughters. Carl did this just so that everly doesn’t end up with Wes and obviously she wasn’t happy but to protect her mother who loves her studio she agrees and so does Declan to protect his company and they're both bound by a marriage of convenience. Will Declan be able to protect Everly from the past she’s running from or will it end up in a complete disaster

Everly is a strong female who doesn’t care about the spotlight and money she prefers to stay out of the light and stands up for her self and doesn’t let anyone walk over her . The way she challenged Declan every chance she got was amusing especially because that man could not keep his jealousy under control and she definitely gave him a run for his money.


“One million.” I held up my paddle without so much as a stutter.”

“Well, I guess sold to the possessive husband of the night.” 😭😭🥹

“It’s my wife in another man’s arms, it’s her skin feeling his touch, it’s her conversation and intelligence being shared. What would you have talked about?”


Declan was a gem he truly loved everly even before Carl had forced their hand in this marriage of convenience the way he’d go the extra mile for everly and payed 100 million to dance with her in the moonlight at a charity gala so no other man would dance with his wife still does something to my heart YES you read that correct 100 mill even i had to do a double take🥹🥹🥹

“ I want that damn jersey off you now. It shouldn’t ever be his name on your back,” I growled in her ear. “Take. It. Off.”

“My name on your back looks best.”


My favourite part was the way Declan just couldn’t get over everly wearing wes’s jersey and demanded she take it off throughout the book. Even till the end he was just happy to see her wear the jersey with his name on it was swoon worthy.🥹🥵

“That’s two times now you’ve done that.”
“Done what?”
He followed me. “Gotten out of my car without letting me open the door for you.”

“Three times now you’ve opened the door instead of me.”

“Twenty-one times you haven’t listened, haven’t let me open the door for you, haven’t let me take care of you.”


I couldn’t stop laughing at how declan kept count Every time everly would get out of the car and open the door before he got the chance to open it for her or every time she’d walk away defying him like dammn where do you find him from because I want him 😍😍

“little girl squealing as her uncle danced her around in circles and threw her in the air for everyone to see. I swear my freaking ovaries almost burst while watching him.” - it’s not just your ovaries count me in😭🥰

I LOVED the bonding between the Hardy family and how Declan and his siblings were so close and their family group chat was lit. The way Declan’s danced with his niece and the way his brother in law Cade is a mafia millionaire and how he helps Declan get revenge for everly is cute. The best part was how his sister Izzy hacked the will and knew everything and posted it on the group chat and I honestly can’t wait to to read their story

SPOILERS AHEAD ⚠️⚠️⚠️

“I don’t love you, Drop.”
I cut her off fast. I needed to say it out loud anyway. Maybe if I could convince her of it, I’d believe it myself. I didn’t want her love this way. I wouldn’t have it be like this. Not with the weight of a will bearing down on us . She needed to love me and I needed to love her without conditions.”


I was so upset when Declan told everyly he doesn’t love her I know he did it so that she could get her mums studio back and it killed him but after everything everly had gone through was just unfair.

“Do you know what it’s like to have your body taken hostage and controlled by someone you thought would never hurt you? To give that trust and then they proceed to do their worst with it?” 😢

I still have tears from the way she described how her ex had raped her and her best friend. For everyone to think she’s a liar she was soo accustomed to people not believing her it hurt my heart . The fact that her best friend didn’t testify against her ex was disgusting like he raped you too and you still kept in contact with him I just wanted to slap her

SPOILERS END HERE ⚠️⚠️⚠️


“How many times did you sleep with that fucker?” - this was literally at the start and it only got worse 😂

Overall it’s a really good read I enjoyed every bit of Declan and his possessive nature ofcourse I did but I cant lie at some parts even I was like ok dude RELAX 😂💀 but I LOVED THIS BOOK BECAUSE EVERLY SHE WAS STRONG AND AMAZING THE WAY SHE HELD HER GROUND AND AFTER EVERYTHING SHE HAD BEEN THROUGH SHE DESERVES THE WORLD 💕

Now this book has alot of spice I skip them parts because I don’t read smut but if you do then you’ll definitely love this because I skipped a decent amount of pages 😂
145 reviews9 followers
March 24, 2023
DNF at 92%

I want to start off by saying I really enjoy Everly as a character. She’s super strong and resilient. She’s smart and super talented. All in all, I think she was amazing character and the author wrote her very well. My issue lies with Declan.

To me, it feels like Declan completely steam rolled over Everly the entire time. The marriage? No discussion it’s happening. The baby? Well he wants it so it has to happen. He talks about how strong she is but refuses to listen to what she’s saying. The way he interacted with her frustrated me SO much. To me, it felt like he wasn’t actually trying to communicate with her.

What got me to stop reading was ‘the betrayal’. I’m going to be completely honest-this part made me so angry.

Everly talks about how she can’t have a child if there isn’t love, meanwhile she realizes she’s in love with him and could have a child with him. So, she tells him this and is vulnerable and this man looks her dead in the eyes and says he doesn’t love her and he can’t. Then, he tells her he’s going to get her step sister pregnant to keep up with the will. Publicly, he takes her step sister (who treats Everly like crap) out and causes media speculation. But when Everly tells him she wants a divorce and to quit, he refuses. Tells her that what happens with her step sister has nothing to do with them and they can continue. But suddenly, he writes this long note publicly about how much he loves her and he’s sorry and he was never actually going to do it. He tells her the only reason why he was faking it was because she needed to believe it and that he was working behind the scenes to keep her mom’s yoga studio. He said it was because he was afraid she wouldn’t understand he loved her and he wanted to start over without the will and inheritance. AND SHE FORGIVES HIM?!

I’m being honest when I say I don’t think I’ve ever been so angry at a book before (or if I was I can’t remember). I just cannot for the life of me understand why this man could not COMMUNICATE!! She’s about to tell you she loves you or that she could and she wants to have your child. And instead of telling her ‘i really love you regardless of the will’ you make her think you’re going to impregnate her stepsister and she can’t divorce you. I’m honestly flabbergasted.

The sex scenes were hot and great! But the relationship just put a bad taste in my mouth. He didn’t seem dominant to me outside of the bedroom-just inconsiderate but pretending he was. I can see that she cares for him but i unfortunately cannot be convinced he really cares for her.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the author and I’ve read some of her other works. Her writing is really good and she does a good job at getting you into her characters heads. It’s just that this book, Declan, is not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Heather Mclarry.
306 reviews46.5k followers
December 20, 2023
3.5⭐️I had a LOT of fun reading this but I will say the last 50% was so freaking chaotic it was giving me whiplash LOL. The first 50% though was damn near perfection
Profile Image for chan ☆.
1,324 reviews60.3k followers
Read
April 26, 2023
i'll give it to shain rose. she has a distinct voice. it's just usually put to use when the hero tells the heroine to give him a gawk gawk 3000 combo in the first 10% of a book.
Profile Image for abba.
104 reviews
March 30, 2023
dnf at 75% (i tried i really did)

both main characters were so awful and neither of them were developing at all. at first i was like “ooh this is messy” in a good way bc i was in the mood for drama, but after reading the same conflicts over and over it became mind numbing.

she would be mean and then it’d switch her pov and she’s like “i don’t know why, but it’s hurts” when he reciprocates her energy and then he was just fucking dumb. just like fucking STUPID.

i truly don’t understand how people rave abt such terrible books like this. these booktokers have bugs for brains is all i can say.
Profile Image for Shain Rose.
Author 20 books7,212 followers
September 27, 2023
Between Commitment and Betrayal, An Arranged Marriage Romance, is live.

My father's business partner will do anything for the empire they built together...Even marry me.
Declan Hardy, All-American heartthrob and retired NFL billionaire, is my complete opposite.
He's commanding where I'm cooperative.
Spontaneous while I am deliberate.
Loud when I stay quiet.
The only thing we have in common is that both our names are on my father's will.
He'll inherit the fitness and hospitality empire and I'll keep the one thing I hold dear.
As long as I marry him—with conditions.
One year of a fake marriage.
One year of living together.
One year of pretending I belong in his luxury lifestyle.
But stipulations are never that simple.
Especially when I can't tell if his kisses are fake or if I'm pretending when I kiss him back.
And as more conditions arise, it's clear there's a fine line between commitment and betrayal... and neither of us knows where that line falls.

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐰:
⚜️Amazon: https://bit.ly/3xuhA5y
🔥Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/BCandB
⚜️Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3I6wFz9

Cover Designer: Booksandmoods
Photographer: Wander Aguiar
Cover Model: Andrew Biernat































Profile Image for Vanessa (When Vane Reads).
744 reviews267 followers
March 19, 2023
OMG This story is so addictive, kindle crack, it had me turning the pages without blinking, it's Unputdownable. Marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes and this one is definitely PERFECTION!

Everly and Declan can't stand each other, but they are forced into a marriage of convenience for a year, so that Declan can keep his companies and Everly something very dear to her, then they are forced to live together, soon the tension that is palpable between them from the beginning is impossible to deny, I loved their pull and push, their sizzling chemistry is pure fire, and their scenes are so so steamy, my tablet almost caught fire.

I loved Declan, he is such a possessive and jealous alpha male, but he is so sweet and tender with Everly, i loved the way he protects her and takes care of her. he is my new book boyfriend!

This story is so sexy and spicy, full of drama and emotion, it made me feel so much, sadness, angst, anger, tenderness and pain, and some plot twists blew my mind . So so good. I can’t wait for more of this world. However, there are some sensitive topics, proceed with caution. Highly recommended if you are a fan of:
Marriage of convenience
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Possessive alpha male
Spicy
Billionaire romance
Work place
Profile Image for Finucha.
332 reviews55 followers
October 2, 2023
I fr wanna cry because of how much I hated this😋!!!!

This story was basically just the mcs wanting to piss each other off just because they had nothing better to do. There was literally no emotional connection between them, just smut. And every time they interacted I wanted to claw my eyes out from how pathetic and unreal they were.

I’m so frustrated because the marriage of convenience could’ve been good if there was a plot that actually made sense. More I'm beyond infuriated because I understand having to marry because of some deadass man’s will, but having to impregnate your wife to get ahold of a freaking business empire and ALSO pushing her on the matter when she clearly doesn’t want it under those circumstances it is on another level.

I should get paid for putting up to reading 400pgs of this and how I’m emotionally scarred from anger.

Anyways I swear I never hate a book this much, but this one I just want to burn.
Profile Image for ohmynameiskaylee.
170 reviews198 followers
August 2, 2023
Between Commitment and Betrayal, a forced proximity, arranged marriage, sports romance, is the first installment of the Hardy Billionaire Brothers series. Let me begin by saying, there’s no doubt in my mind that this will be someone’s comfort series or favorite book. It just wasn't for me and that's okay.

Going into this without reading any of the author’s previous work, I wasn’t sure what to expect.
It seemed promising at the beginning. Then we got about a quarter of the way in and there is an…unexpected plot twist. I’m talking, out of absolutely nowhere. The only foreshadowing was perhaps a mere sentence at the beginning of the novel. Try as I might, this sentence set a precedent for this book and not a very good one. Though I tried to power through, it seemed as though this one ill-timed moment put every other discrepancy under a magnifying glass. At first, it seemed as though it was the sort of conflict that should’ve been saved until the climax. Then we learn it is actually the inciting incident that sets the story into motion.

Once I came to terms with this, it was the characters I couldn’t get behind. I will say, Everly, our female protagonist has a backbone. She’s willing to stand her ground with everyone…or at least everyone that isn’t her husband. Now, I’ve not swayed either way when it comes to the alpha male trope. As long as the man is respectful, all is well. But here’s where I draw the line with these characters. Evie’s independence would’ve been empowering had she not succumbed to her arranged husband’s way during literally every disagreement. I don't think she got her way once. She’s come from a dark past, not one of her own choosing. She’s fought through hell and back to get to where she is today and while it should’ve been inspiring, it was actually the opposite. Her motivations didn’t align with her choices and it just didn’t sit well with me.

Now don’t even get me started on Declan. He is a walking definition of the words toxic masculinity. So essentially, Evie is someone that struggles with a lack of control. She’s got all of these demons taking space in her heart and her mind. So in Declan’s mind, his way of caring for her would be to let her lose control when it comes to him. I usually love this trope. I crave the dynamic between one high-strung and one spontaneous, loose-edged lover. But there’s trust that needs to be built before that pairing becomes mutually beneficial. Instead, we jump straight into that balance, or lack thereof, and it comes across as controlling. There’s this man that barely knows you that decides to come bulldozing into your life, making choices you most certainly can make on your own. Tell me how you’d feel. Not head over heels in love, that’s for sure. Declan’s behavior could’ve been redeemed if he had let Evie take control every once and a while, and I’m not talking just in the bedroom. Every choice they needed to make, both as individuals and as a married couple, was decided on by Declan. Evie didn’t want to be tied to this man for a year. Yet his reputation and empire mattered more to him than this woman he supposedly loves. So, they got married. Now a couple of months into marriage and you learn there are stipulations that you need to comply with, or else everything you’ve sacrificed is completely null and void, but it determines who and what controls your body. So naturally, you’re against it. But your husband that was forced onto you demands that you go through with these conditions and though you argue, at the end of the day you comply and why? I’m not sure why Evie backed down most of the time. Declan is just a disaster of a man. He takes the word possessive to a different level and not a good one. He used Carl’s will as a way to manipulate an unfortunate situation in his favor. I have no respect for that man. He should’ve groveled way more than he did for making Evie feel the way he did about just about everything, but especially the Anastasia ordeal at the end of the story. She should’ve brought that man to his knees and made him worship her and I’m so upset she didn’t. He should’ve never entertained even the mere idea of another woman, even if it was for their future. He also thought he got a say in whether or not she was on birth control because of what? The will? No baby, that’ll do it for me. I’ve seen everything I needed to see. I’m out.

While Declan and Evie’s relationship was toxic in every sense of the word, at least the sex was hot. Gave me butterflies every time. Though in the grand scheme of it all, their relationship was built on lust. Even after reading the entire book, I struggle to believe they truly love each other. Perhaps it’s because I couldn’t get past their personality flaws, but their relationship is very surface-level. It in no way was healthy. The hate-sex trope is my guilty pleasure, but even I can admit that getting it on every time you disagree is not going to nurture a lasting relationship. Once again, as someone that loves the angst the silent treatment builds, resorting to it every time isn’t getting anyone anywhere.

I also couldn’t get past Declan’s nickname for Evie. I am an avid lover of nicknames, but only when they bear importance. They need to be tied to a significant moment for them to be impactful. But no, he calls her Drop because she was, and I quote, “as small as a raindrop.” There was so much physicality in this book, it was unsettling. Going back to the lust over love structure, it was dwelled on so much throughout the novel that it came across as superficial.

Structure-wise, I wouldn’t say it was a character or plot-driven story. It just…was. It was a very digestible read. I was able to read it in almost one sitting, yet given the quality, I’m not sure if it was out of boredom or intrigue. I will say, the premise of the story seemed promising, but the execution just lacked originality. I’ve read this concept at least twice before this, and given the copy-paste nature of this, it seems this author has as well. I’m all about being inspired by another’s work, but at some point, you can become so obsessed that it seeps into your own. I mean even some of the names and occupations were the same. I don’t want to assume, but it seems a little too convenient.

The plot revolved around Declan demanding Evie do something, her not doing it, and them arguing about it until they end up sleeping together. It just seemed mundane and repetitive.

There’s drama and there’s angst. The difference between the two is the development that leads to either one or the other. I prefer the latter, with it being the result of a natural progression of events. With angst, there’s a build-up, a proper story that gives way to palpable emotion. Drama just exists. There isn’t always a catalyst for it, and if there is, it is almost never significant. It just exists for the sake of it. Unfortunately, in this novel, all we got was very stereotypical drama.

I very clearly missed a series with Declan’s siblings or maybe his brother-in-laws. There was so much going on in that regard that I was just lost. Truly, the men didn’t interest me very much, giving off the same vibe as Declan, but I might look into it if only for his sisters that seem absolutely hilarious.

But…despite all of this, clearly, the author did something right because I am just dying to read Clara and Dom’s book. It’s gonna be so hot. Given the glimpses we got of them, I’ve come to terms that their relationship won’t be any healthier than Declan and Evie’s, but I am manifesting a stronger development. Their build-up seems promising. They’ve clearly got a longer history. I’ve got a sense I’m just gonna keep coming back for more. My curiosity is going to get the best of me.

I’m stuck between a two-star and three-star rating, but overall, I don't regret the read. You never know until you try.

Thank you to Valentine PR and Shain Rose for providing me with this ARC. As always, all opinions are my own and are not influenced by early access to this title.

Profile Image for Emma_books_xoxo.
167 reviews22 followers
March 19, 2023
I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to read this masterpiece!!
This is an arranged marriage, sports, angsty read!😍
This book has everything and more. The angst between Everly and Declan kept you wanting more!. From the first page I was instantly hooked. Everly and Declan are polar opposites in everything. Everly doesn't want to be in the spotlight at all and Declan is a retired NFL player and his whole life is publicised by the media and his fame. They find themself in a contractual marriage set out by Everly's late father and in order for Declan to keep his shares in the business that he built with Evie's father they have to be married for a year otherwise the shares are dissolved to another company. Declan and Everly try to navigate the situation that has been dropped on them but when lines are blurred and boundaries are crossed can they make it through the year?
If you love marriage of continence with a whole lot of spice and have a praise kink then this is a book for you!! 🔥🥵.
Profile Image for jada.
282 reviews91 followers
July 19, 2023
i hate to say this bc i loved corrupted chaos by this author but this book was so bad 😭 i was expecting so much more.
the way it started off had me feeling like i was missing SO much?? i was so confused for a while. the book starts off and they��ve known each other for two months already with almost no back story. everly goes to live with her estranged father and he has declan playing guard dog basically as if she’s 12 and not a 24 year old woman.
their whole relationship is a back and forth of declan wanting everly but telling himself no bc she’s his business partners daughter. everly wanting declan but telling herself no bc he’s her boss and they don’t fit (him famous, her wanting no part of the attention he gets)

now i love a marriage of convenience trope but this was not it 😩😩 they’re married and having sex yet there’s still SO MUCH op drama. everly is “dating” om and every guy that looks at her wants her. declan is friends with his ex/she’s their pr person and everlys stepsister wants declan. it was GROSS and annoying.
they would hook up and the next minute everly was throwing her boyfriend in declan’s face and telling him to go out with her sister. it got old real fast. declan wanted everly outside of the fake marriage but did nothing when ow would hang all over him and try to get between them like are you sure you’re 34???

“”Carl wanted us married but it isn’t real.” Even saying those words now felt wrong because I couldn’t see what was real or fake anymore between Declan and me.” PLEASE 🙄🙄 every other thought is how they aren’t real lmao


THE BETRAYAL!!! i felt like it was so unnecessary? like he was trying to get her to trust him and then did a complete 180 at the drop of a hat. he could’ve just told her he loved her and wanted a baby with her not because of the will??? instead he breaks her heart and starts “dating” HER SISTER??? he tells her he will have a baby with her instead and nothing will change between them ARE U FR???
anyway he’s seen all over with her sister and then he finally tells everly that it was all a setup to get her moms studio, he was never going to be with anastasia, etc. this girl folds so fast lmao like she was all hell bent on divorce, she’s quitting, moving on but he tells her that and it’s all forgotten. embarrassing


“I don’t need to plan it like you, Drop, or think about all the different outcomes.” they’re talking about bringing a CHILD into this fake marriage!!!!! no plan needed 🙂

he forced her to remove her birth control. the will says they need to have a baby. everly was against both things but gives in rather quickly. idk what it is with this author but she likes to force babies on her fmc and it’s just icky
“”Is it even mine?” I shouldn’t have asked, and yet she’d hidden it from me like she didn’t want me to be a part of it. My blood boiled over at the thought that it might not be.” ohhhhh no. he would be a dead man 😌 i wonder why she wouldn’t want to tell you when she thought you were having a baby with her sister …. hmm
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Grecia Robles.
1,691 reviews464 followers
February 18, 2024
Matrimonio Arreglado/Conveniencia
Age Gap
Millonario
Sport Romance

Para obtener la herencia de su papá y no perder el estudio de Yoga de su mamá, necesita casarse con el socio de su padre, quien a su vez también necesita casarse con ella para no perder las acciones y que pasen a otra empresa donde ella no podrá tener el control.

Los dos están renuentes sobre todo ella, pero aceptan el matrimonio por un año pero lo que no esperaban es enamorarse.

La verdad no me gustó nada, ella es de esas protagonistas tercas, molestas y hasta malagradecidas, siempre yendo contra corriente.
A parte de ella no me gustó el desarrollo, desde el principio hay atracción y lujuria que le dan rienda suelta desde el principio un poquito de slow burn no hubiera caído mal, los besos las carisias no eran falsas como nos dan entender en la sinopsis.
Otra cosa que no me gustó, es que ella tuvo novio en todo el libro y no lo dejaba, aunque le dijeran que no era buena persona.

Ya me dijeron que el segundo es del mismo estilo, así que tomé la decisión de no leerlo.
Profile Image for Jena .
2,313 reviews2 followers
avoid
July 11, 2023
Self note:
No personality h. How does a man fall in love with a house plant.
Profile Image for Inessa_Akin.
261 reviews18 followers
January 27, 2024
The best part about this book was when it was over and I didn’t have to read anymore.

I was genuinely so upset with this book…how a well-crafted plot and idea could go wrong so fast.

This was supposed to be a marriage of convenience with some angsty type tension…but all I got was OWD and OMD in almost every chapter…I’m genuinely not kidding when I say I don’t think we went 5 chapters without some drama with the opposite sex happening…

I think In the authors eyes she was giving us “tension” and “angst” but in reality, it kept giving me the ick and was quickly making this book that could’ve been a 5-star QUICKLY drop to a 2/5 (and that’s being generous) I couldn’t focus on the interesting parts of the book when constantly I was reading about another man or woman wanting the other BLAH BLAH BLAH, Gosh the number of times I wanted to dnf the book was unbelievable,

I’m so utterly disappointed because this book sounded so interesting…and it didn’t deliver any of that.

If the author cut out the OWD AND OMD this would’ve easily been an amazing read, she could’ve created tension and angst without other people in the mix.

Jealously is “fun” for one scene, and then after that, it’s annoying! How many times do I need to read about the girl getting jealous because her annoying stepsister has her hands all over her husband's arm?

And how many times did I need to read about him getting annoyingly possessive of even a man who LOOKED at her? Dammit, it got so annoying so fast,

I love a possessive man in a book, but not to the point where all I’m thinking about is “can this man just shut up for one second and let her do her job of training a man” or whatever the hell her job was.

Honestly, I don’t know what else to say…except that I’m disappointed and I wished I loved this.

Some parts were fun and cute. But I barely saw any of that when the whole plot of the book was surrounded by OWD and OMD.

I can’t even begin to tell you how many anger issues I had with this book…I hate leaving low reviews but I can’t lie with how I feel.

Thank you for The arc of this book in exchange for an honest review! I’m really upset it didn’t work for me. But maybe it will for someone else.
Profile Image for Aliki (semi hiatus).
190 reviews67 followers
August 20, 2023
Edit: i should inform yall about a scene that this book had and i can't stop thinking about. The fmc was wearing another player's jersey AND THE MMC WENT LIVID, LIVID WITH JEALOUSLY AND DEMANDED SHE REMOVE IT RIGHT AWAY. This. Thankyou

I could say so many things about this book, but the only one that comes to my mind right now is yummyyyy

Profile Image for Megan.
306 reviews
January 7, 2025
2.75
I committed and got betrayed.
Profile Image for Travelogged Blogs.
1,536 reviews128 followers
March 29, 2023
“There’s only one woman you’re going to have to see around the family for the rest of your life attached to me and that’s my wife,”

There was so much angst and sexual tension in the book. Declan & Everly's life was suddenly entwined because of her fathers stipulations. While I liked them as a couple, there were so many instances that left me feeling frustrated.
The only part I liked was after the 80% mark which earned this book one extra star. The best part of this book came when it was nearly ending. I wish there was more after they truly accepted their marriage.
Profile Image for Jodie Villines.
375 reviews16 followers
March 18, 2023
I stayed up sooo late reading this because I could not put it down.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I realized she didn’t belong to me, I belonged to her… she held my sanity, my control, my power, my heart in her hands. She owned me.”

OH MY GOSH. My emotions were literal all over the place with this. I honestly have never felt so many emotions reading a book. Love. Anger. Hurt. Steamy. Sadness. All of it. I can’t even describe it to you without giving it away.
I literally felt it all.
One thing that I will say without any spoilers is that this marriage of convenience does not go down like most other books with that trope. This one threw me for a LOOP.🤯

We have Declan and Everly who are forced into a marriage of convenience. Declan is a former NFL superstar but now runs a billionaire empire. Everly comes from humble beginnings and is running from a past that still haunts her.

Declan and Everly have tension from the start. You can’t deny their pull and chemistry towards each other. If you love good sexual tension and lots of spice. This is a GREAT book for you🤤
They both fight it for their own reasons though. And let me tell ya I’ve never been so mad/heartbroken before about a third act… that’s all I’m gonna say about that. 😅

Tropes:
-marriage of convenience
-billionare MMC
-possessive/jealousy
-dominant MMC
-strong female lead
-close proximity
-fathers business partner
-workplace romance
Profile Image for Filiz.
301 reviews8 followers
July 16, 2023
Konu olarak çok güzel olsada onu okuyucuya geçiremeyince malesef olmuyor bu 3 puanıda Declan için verdim😍
Profile Image for Anna.
878 reviews630 followers
March 29, 2023
This book is the epitome of “my wife” energy 🔥🔥🔥

Declan is also my favorite name ever so I’m really vibing with this book!!!!

Everly is asked to come hang with her father whom she didn’t really know. He is heart failure and wants to spend some time with his only daughter. She is hired to work at HEAT gym where her father & his best friend (Declan), and NFL superstar, own & run it. Right off the bat there is tension between her and Declan and it’s really giving enemies to lovers. Her father passes and leaves a will behind that states in order for Declan & everly to get what they want, they have to be married for a year…now this is where all the fun begins.

Everly has two step sisters, one who is literally THE DEVIL, and the other who is the only person actually trying to form a relationship with her. Everly is so dang strong and she had an AWFUL past with a different popular golden boy in her small town & you learn how much she had to go through. I was rooting for her HEA.

Declan is a possessive Zaddy & wants literally nobody but Everly which makes me all tingly & happy. AND HE IS PIERCED JESUS CHRIST. So hot. And he is not shy at ALL in the bedroom 🔥

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

Tropes:
Marriage of convenience
Forced proximity
Age gap
Dads best friend/business partner
Enemies to lovers
Billionaire
Profile Image for Faiza.
14 reviews
April 1, 2023
GIRL YOU HAVE HUSBAND WHO IS LITERALLY CRAZY FOR YOU!! BUT NO!! YOU NEED ANOTHER MAN. YOU ARE NOT EVEN ATTRACTED TO THAT MAN. BUT NO YOU NEED A BOYFRIEND TO PISS OF YOUR HUSBAND EVERY FUCKING TIME!! THIS BOOK GAVE ME STRAIGHT UP FRUSTRATION. THE SMUT WAS GOOD. BUT THE WHOLE STORY? THE BIGGEST BOO OF THE YEAR! EW. I HATE THE AUTHOR WITH MY WHOLE HEART. THANK YOU.
Profile Image for Lu Bielefeld .
4,304 reviews633 followers
August 16, 2023
3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK or decent reads.
============================
What about the stepmother and half-sister? Won't they get what they deserve?
I want blood and heads rolling! These bitches need punishment and a lot of humiliation. WTF!
An OK read.
Profile Image for iremucka.
284 reviews17 followers
October 18, 2025
Nerde Sadakat nerde ihanet nerde bu devlet?! Ay çok kötüydü😒. Kitabın 2 🌟 ‘ lık olacağı zaten ilk bölümden belliydi. Ama bu kadar da olmaz.. 🙅‍♀️

Aslında konumuz bilindik ve gayet okunabilir ama onun işleyişi ayrı ızdırap oldu bana. Evie (24) babasız yetişmiştir ancak babasının hastalığı sonrası onun şehrine taşınır ve zengin babasının spor kompleksinde çalışmaya başlar, babasının ortağı ex NHL Star Declan (34?) ile tanışır ve olaylar gelişir.. Konuyu anlatırken bu kadar baba dememe rağmen daddy issues olmayan bir kadın karakter 🤨

Slow burn sevmem ama bu ne yaw bu kadar hızlı gelişen olaylar ve bu kadar yavan işlenmesi. Kapakta kafam kadar yüzük olduğuna göre bunu söylemem spoiler sayılmaz karakterlerimiz anlaşmalı evlilik yapıyorlar ama o kadar çok öteki kadın/ adam muhabbeti vardı ki ay bayılazaaam 🤯 Declan ne doğruydun ne yanlış. Ne yaptığın belli ne motivasyonların ay yok gereksiz. Kitap bitene kadar sayfaları saydım durdum. Bu yazardan bir daha okuyacağımı hiç sanmıyorum. 🤦‍♀️
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