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נישואים בהזמנה
ג'ק ואני עשינו הכול הפוך.
ביום שבו הוא משך אותי למשרדו, שהיה גם היום שבו נפגשנו בפעם הראשונה, הוא הציע לי נישואים.
אפשר לצפות שבחור שנראה כמוהו – אולי קצת קר, אבל עדיין מרשים מאוד ובלתי מושג, יציע נישואים רק לאהבת חייו, נכון? אפשר לצפות שהוא יציע נישואים כי הוא מאוהב עד טירוף. אבל לא.
ההצעה הייתה מכוונת אליי.
אישה לגמרי זרה שמעולם לא שמעה עליו.
אישה לגמרי זרה, שנזרקה על ידי הארוס שלה רק שבועות ספורים קודם לכן.
הייתם מצפים שאצחק לו בפרצוף, שאכנה אותו משוגע, ועוד כמה כינויים, ואסתלק משם במהירות האפשרית. טוב... עשיתי את כל הדברים האלה, חוץ מהחלק של להסתלק משם. נדרשו לו רק דקות בודדות לשכנע אותי לעשות איתו עסקה... אממ, כלומר עסקת נישואים, ורק ימים בודדים להתחתן איתי רשמית.
היום המאושר בחיי. קסום. מרגש. ריקודים עד אור הבוקר... פחות.
זה היה היום הגרוע בחיי.
ג'ק האתורן היה ההפך הגמור מגבר חלומותיי. האשמתי אותו בַּטעות שעשיתי בשיקול הדעת. האשמתי את העיניים שלו, את עיני התכלת העמוקות שהביטו ישר בעיניי בלי בושה, ובזעף הזה בפניו שלא ידעתי שירתק אותי כל־כך עם הזמן. הוא אמר שאני הטעות הכי גדולה שעשה בחייו, אבל זמן קצר לאחר מכן הדברים התחילו להשתנות.
לא, הוא עדיין לא דיבר הרבה, אבל כל אחד יכול לשזור כמה מילים למשפט. המעשים שלו דיברו אליי בקול תרועה, ויום אחר יום, הלב שלי התחיל לקבל רצון משלו.
רגע אחד הוא היה אף אחד, ברגע הבא הוא נעשה הכול.
רגע אחד הוא היה בלתי מושג, ברגע הבא היה נדמה שהוא לחלוטין שלי.
רגע אחד חשבתי שאנחנו מאוהבים, ברגע הבא הכול היה עדיין רק שקר גדול.
אחרי הכול, הייתי רוז והוא היה ג'ק. עם השמות האלה, גורלנו נחרץ ממש מההתחלה. אפשר היה לצפות למשהו אחר?
ביום שבו הוא משך אותי למשרדו, שהיה גם היום שבו נפגשנו בפעם הראשונה, הוא הציע לי נישואים.
אפשר לצפות שבחור שנראה כמוהו – אולי קצת קר, אבל עדיין מרשים מאוד ובלתי מושג, יציע נישואים רק לאהבת חייו, נכון? אפשר לצפות שהוא יציע נישואים כי הוא מאוהב עד טירוף. אבל לא.
ההצעה הייתה מכוונת אליי.
אישה לגמרי זרה שמעולם לא שמעה עליו.
אישה לגמרי זרה, שנזרקה על ידי הארוס שלה רק שבועות ספורים קודם לכן.
הייתם מצפים שאצחק לו בפרצוף, שאכנה אותו משוגע, ועוד כמה כינויים, ואסתלק משם במהירות האפשרית. טוב... עשיתי את כל הדברים האלה, חוץ מהחלק של להסתלק משם. נדרשו לו רק דקות בודדות לשכנע אותי לעשות איתו עסקה... אממ, כלומר עסקת נישואים, ורק ימים בודדים להתחתן איתי רשמית.
היום המאושר בחיי. קסום. מרגש. ריקודים עד אור הבוקר... פחות.
זה היה היום הגרוע בחיי.
ג'ק האתורן היה ההפך הגמור מגבר חלומותיי. האשמתי אותו בַּטעות שעשיתי בשיקול הדעת. האשמתי את העיניים שלו, את עיני התכלת העמוקות שהביטו ישר בעיניי בלי בושה, ובזעף הזה בפניו שלא ידעתי שירתק אותי כל־כך עם הזמן. הוא אמר שאני הטעות הכי גדולה שעשה בחייו, אבל זמן קצר לאחר מכן הדברים התחילו להשתנות.
לא, הוא עדיין לא דיבר הרבה, אבל כל אחד יכול לשזור כמה מילים למשפט. המעשים שלו דיברו אליי בקול תרועה, ויום אחר יום, הלב שלי התחיל לקבל רצון משלו.
רגע אחד הוא היה אף אחד, ברגע הבא הוא נעשה הכול.
רגע אחד הוא היה בלתי מושג, ברגע הבא היה נדמה שהוא לחלוטין שלי.
רגע אחד חשבתי שאנחנו מאוהבים, ברגע הבא הכול היה עדיין רק שקר גדול.
אחרי הכול, הייתי רוז והוא היה ג'ק. עם השמות האלה, גורלנו נחרץ ממש מההתחלה. אפשר היה לצפות למשהו אחר?
466 pages, Paperback
First published October 27, 2022
6558 people are currently reading
91186 people want to read
About the author
Ella Maise
14 books11k followersWriting has become my world and I can’t imagine myself doing anything other than giving life to new characters and new stories. You know how some things simply makes your heart burst with happiness? A really good book, a puppy, hugging someone you’ve been missing like crazy? That’s what writing does to me. And all the hard work, all the sleepless nights, all the anxiety…everything is worth it at the end. And I'm hoping that reading my books will leave you with that same happy feeling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 12,142 reviews
October 4, 2021
3.75 ⭐️
ok hear me out…this was good it’s just…there was no plot in the slightest. it was like reading a diary tbh. i ain’t mad about it though
it’s dual pov and the book is literally
1.) marriage of convenience
2.) girl opens coffee shop and moves into guy’s apartment
3.) girl gets sick 🤕
4.) guy helps her through her sickness 🤧
5.) they fuck (finally; slow burn)🥵
6.) he has a secret 🤐 …
7.) she finds out his secret 😧…
8.) girl is angry 😡 for 1 chapter
9.) guy will not apologize for what he did because he loves her 😤
10.) she “understands” his pov 🥺
11.) make love on the counter top 🤤
12.) happily ever after 🤩
that’s it that’s the story. it was cute but i lowkey wanted to sucker punch both of the love interests at times. they were so annoying. lots of second hand embarrassment from both of them. mostly Rose because she was either crying or frustrated over the fact that Jack never smiles because he’s an arrogant guy.
i didn’t hate this book at all but i didn’t love it liked i hoped i would. however it was enjoyable just reading about their lives. like yeh there was no beginning, middle, or end but ugh whatever i’m done with this review
peace out ✌🏽
ok hear me out…this was good it’s just…there was no plot in the slightest. it was like reading a diary tbh. i ain’t mad about it though
it’s dual pov and the book is literally
1.) marriage of convenience
2.) girl opens coffee shop and moves into guy’s apartment
3.) girl gets sick 🤕
4.) guy helps her through her sickness 🤧
5.) they fuck (finally; slow burn)🥵
6.) he has a secret 🤐 …
7.) she finds out his secret 😧…
8.) girl is angry 😡 for 1 chapter
9.) guy will not apologize for what he did because he loves her 😤
10.) she “understands” his pov 🥺
11.) make love on the counter top 🤤
12.) happily ever after 🤩
that’s it that’s the story. it was cute but i lowkey wanted to sucker punch both of the love interests at times. they were so annoying. lots of second hand embarrassment from both of them. mostly Rose because she was either crying or frustrated over the fact that Jack never smiles because he’s an arrogant guy.
i didn’t hate this book at all but i didn’t love it liked i hoped i would. however it was enjoyable just reading about their lives. like yeh there was no beginning, middle, or end but ugh whatever i’m done with this review
peace out ✌🏽
May 10, 2019
The words of the male protagonist pretty well summarize the storyline.
"I still couldn’t believe she had forgiven me without making me work for it more."
August 25, 2023
4.5 ⭐️ slay
June 10, 2024
#3 Reread - Oct 2023 - ೃ⁀➷ 5+ stars
Serenity
(noun)
the absence of mental stress or anxiety
Synonyms : JackRose, Around The Corner, Lemon bars, Roses, Pasta Mondays, Jack’s rare smiles, bear hugs, “my wife”, “my husband”, running in a suit, mutual pining, forearm porn, practise kisses, playing with each others rings, Mr&Mrs Hawthorne, turtles, “their” banter, hurt-comfort, “Are you asleep?”, pizza Thursdays, temple kisses, flirting, communication, Rose’s mega-watt grins, inside jokes, blushing, stalking, grovelling to perfection, personal Bouquet delivery every Monday, Marriage For One…
This review is gna be me basically screaming into the ether about my love for this book, there’s gna be an excess of the words perfect cute adorable and love, so just bear w me lmao <333
JackRose are the epitome of grumpy x sunshine. They OWN this trope.
Do u understand how hard it is to find a couple that fits into this trope where you love BOTH characters??! it’s not only that I love adore cherish JackRose separately and together but the way they fulfilled every aspect of this trope and then some is why they can never ever ever be outdone in this area for me 👑👑
I went back to reread some of my fav scenes and naturally I ended up accidentally rereading the whole thing and every freaking time, I’d find myself leaving the book smiling giggling grinning ear to ear like a lovesick idiot sighhhh THEYRE SO RIDICULOUSLY ADORABLE ITS NOT FAIRRRR 😩✋
They delivered on the small moments like no other book I’ve ever read. They had a conversation about what type of couple they want to be and their five year plan 😭😭😭😭 What they have can’t be beat.
There is no solid plot, which we all know I love lol. The ‘plot’ is them going thru ups and downs, working on their relationship. Every scene showed their development, and even tho I’ve read this book again and again, their interactions will always feel stimulating to me. JackRose are just superior like that 💅💅
Ella Maise has this amazing ability to create a blend of show and tell with certain scenes. She’ll tell us about something they did but then will add a dialogue in there too which makes it so easy to imagine what that scene looked like. It’s the subtle nuances like this that make me fall in love with this book that much more.
Also, this book being 500 pages on the dot is so fucking satisfying idc idc it deserves the brownie points for that 💅
This is one of the very few books I’ll allow to have the third act breakup and still love it to bits and pieces. Tbh the third act here was so 🥹😩😭💘💕💞💓 like pls him dogging after her, making sure she safely reaches home even if it means he stays outside weathering the freezing cold- day and night, hoping to catch any and every crumb of her he can get, u can’t tell me this isn’t precious ✋ it’s the best way to solve any argument 💅
and then when he tells her to sign but Rose doesn’t??! Perfection 🤌 That scene had me on my kneeeees I can’t I’m gna sob right here right now 🥹🔫
I'm madly in LOVE w the fact that they don’t pretend to be the clueless ‘I wonder why he/she did this’. They can see thru each other's bullshit AND call the other out on it ughhhhhh it’s PERFECT
It’s also the fact that they both actively worked to share space and be together. They became each other's family after their own had left them disappointed 😭❤️🩹
Every interaction every scene has my heart sighing in happiness, just wanting to fall to my knees and sob right then and there 🥹😭😩💓💝💗💞💘🦋
Rose is the most aggressively adorable character EVER. I just wanna squash her into the tightest cuddliest bear hug forevermoreeeee-
Every time I think about Rose, an instant smile lights my face, she’s like home to me. I cherish her character sfm. She’s not a doormat and doesn’t hesitate to argue for what she wants or feels is right. Her teaching Jack a lesson on manners had me grinning so biggggg heheheh the way Jack apologises so quick 💅🤭🦋💘🤸🏻♀️ she’s genuinely such a good bean. Her sunshine outlook on life will always be so fucking wholesomeeee and her annoying Jack just because she can is 🤌🤌🤌🤌
I adore the fact that she loves how Jack is grumpy and how she thinks his frowns make him extra cute 🤭🤭
Jack mf Hawthorne serves grumpiness like no other 👑👑 he’s a sarcastic little shit 🤭 I love his and Rose’s dry banter hehe it’s so amusing when they bicker.
Gahhh when he kisses her temple or rubs circles on her back or pushes her hair out of her face or touches his forehead to hers or caresses the back of her head- BAM I’m 🤰🤰🤰🤰🤰 he’s perrrfect. He cares sm about her and it shows throughout the book 🥹
the way Jack would feel so helpless when he couldn’t do anything to help so he just held on to her ankle 😫🙏
It’s the way Jack fights himself and tries his best to give Rose the comfort she deserves 🕺🕺🕺
He’s so soft for her, he folds every time Rose wants anything and it’s just the most wholesome thing EVER.
When Rose argues w him just to be annoying and leaves him completely frustrated but he still cherishes every second he gets to spend w her? It makes me so weak for him like pls I just wanna crawl into his chest and create a home called ‘mine!’ 👹👹
AND THAT LOVE CONFESSION IN THE EPILOGUE?????? Stab me in the heart why don’t u 🤕🤕🤕🤕
I’ll never get over how sexy asf they are together like them simply holding hands got me screaming. And them kissing?! 😮💨 AND THE SMUT? 🫦🫦 Damn, I forgot how hot those scenes were 🤭
The dialogue, the inner monologue EVERYTHING in this book was perfection. I just cannot stop thinking about them.
If it was up to me I’d be stuck in a loop rereading JackRoseDiaries forevermore 😣❤️🩹 they’re so fucking adorable and precious and wholesome and gahhhhhhh every synonym for lovable in every language, it’s them for me.
*
╰┈➤ ❝ “How do I look, Jack?”
“Like death warmed over,” I said.
I could hear the smile in her voice when she responded a few seconds later. “I can always count on you for compliments, can’t I?”
“That’s why I’m here, isn’t it?” ❞
╰┈➤ ❝ “I don’t think I know how to do this.”
“Do what?”
“Rely on someone. Lean on someone. I feel like I’m messing it up.”
“I want to be that person to you, Rose. I want to be the person you lean on. You and I, we’re the same. We have no one but each other. You’ll lean on me and I’ll do the same. We’ll learn how. We’re in this together.” ❞
~PLSSSSS
𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲:
Listening to desi love songs while reading this specific book hits that spot like no other 🤌🤌🤌 the vibes are unmatched
𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀: 🎧
Violets — kid Travis
Tere vaaste — Varun Jain
Neray neray vas — Soch the band x butt brothers
On schedule — ASTN
Heaven — Thilo
Sweettalk My Heart — Tove Lo
The outside — Filip Rudan
Together — Joseph Tilley
Know me — Anthony de La Torre
Gimme love — lyre (sped up)
Tere vaaste — Varun Jain (sped up)
El cielo — Thilo
Till death do us part — Rosenfeld
Naseeb se — Payal dev, Vishal Mishra
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
#𝟮 𝗥𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 - 𝗔𝘂𝗴 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 - ೃ⁀➷ 𝟱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀
JackRose are mother and father. I love them sfm it’s unhealthy. No one can do it like JackRose, it’s true 💅✨👑
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
#𝟭 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 - 𝗦𝗲𝗽 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭 - ೃ⁀➷ 𝟱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀
AAAAHHHHH! This book was amazing!
Jack Hawthorne and Rose just did it for me.
I loved all the tropes. I loved the fact that it was so simple and that all the emotions were just there laid out bare. The communication — forced and otherwise — had me melting pls I loved it sfm. Gahhh it was sooo cuteeee ❤️ one of my ultimate favs!
Serenity
(noun)
the absence of mental stress or anxiety
Synonyms : JackRose, Around The Corner, Lemon bars, Roses, Pasta Mondays, Jack’s rare smiles, bear hugs, “my wife”, “my husband”, running in a suit, mutual pining, forearm porn, practise kisses, playing with each others rings, Mr&Mrs Hawthorne, turtles, “their” banter, hurt-comfort, “Are you asleep?”, pizza Thursdays, temple kisses, flirting, communication, Rose’s mega-watt grins, inside jokes, blushing, stalking, grovelling to perfection, personal Bouquet delivery every Monday, Marriage For One…
This review is gna be me basically screaming into the ether about my love for this book, there’s gna be an excess of the words perfect cute adorable and love, so just bear w me lmao <333
JackRose are the epitome of grumpy x sunshine. They OWN this trope.
Do u understand how hard it is to find a couple that fits into this trope where you love BOTH characters??! it’s not only that I love adore cherish JackRose separately and together but the way they fulfilled every aspect of this trope and then some is why they can never ever ever be outdone in this area for me 👑👑
I went back to reread some of my fav scenes and naturally I ended up accidentally rereading the whole thing and every freaking time, I’d find myself leaving the book smiling giggling grinning ear to ear like a lovesick idiot sighhhh THEYRE SO RIDICULOUSLY ADORABLE ITS NOT FAIRRRR 😩✋
They delivered on the small moments like no other book I’ve ever read. They had a conversation about what type of couple they want to be and their five year plan 😭😭😭😭 What they have can’t be beat.
There is no solid plot, which we all know I love lol. The ‘plot’ is them going thru ups and downs, working on their relationship. Every scene showed their development, and even tho I’ve read this book again and again, their interactions will always feel stimulating to me. JackRose are just superior like that 💅💅
Ella Maise has this amazing ability to create a blend of show and tell with certain scenes. She’ll tell us about something they did but then will add a dialogue in there too which makes it so easy to imagine what that scene looked like. It’s the subtle nuances like this that make me fall in love with this book that much more.
Also, this book being 500 pages on the dot is so fucking satisfying idc idc it deserves the brownie points for that 💅
This is one of the very few books I’ll allow to have the third act breakup and still love it to bits and pieces. Tbh the third act here was so 🥹😩😭💘💕💞💓 like pls him dogging after her, making sure she safely reaches home even if it means he stays outside weathering the freezing cold- day and night, hoping to catch any and every crumb of her he can get, u can’t tell me this isn’t precious ✋ it’s the best way to solve any argument 💅
and then when he tells her to sign but Rose doesn’t??! Perfection 🤌 That scene had me on my kneeeees I can’t I’m gna sob right here right now 🥹🔫
I'm madly in LOVE w the fact that they don’t pretend to be the clueless ‘I wonder why he/she did this’. They can see thru each other's bullshit AND call the other out on it ughhhhhh it’s PERFECT
It’s also the fact that they both actively worked to share space and be together. They became each other's family after their own had left them disappointed 😭❤️🩹
Every interaction every scene has my heart sighing in happiness, just wanting to fall to my knees and sob right then and there 🥹😭😩💓💝💗💞💘🦋
Rose is the most aggressively adorable character EVER. I just wanna squash her into the tightest cuddliest bear hug forevermoreeeee-
Every time I think about Rose, an instant smile lights my face, she’s like home to me. I cherish her character sfm. She’s not a doormat and doesn’t hesitate to argue for what she wants or feels is right. Her teaching Jack a lesson on manners had me grinning so biggggg heheheh the way Jack apologises so quick 💅🤭🦋💘🤸🏻♀️ she’s genuinely such a good bean. Her sunshine outlook on life will always be so fucking wholesomeeee and her annoying Jack just because she can is 🤌🤌🤌🤌
I adore the fact that she loves how Jack is grumpy and how she thinks his frowns make him extra cute 🤭🤭
Jack mf Hawthorne serves grumpiness like no other 👑👑 he’s a sarcastic little shit 🤭 I love his and Rose’s dry banter hehe it’s so amusing when they bicker.
Gahhh when he kisses her temple or rubs circles on her back or pushes her hair out of her face or touches his forehead to hers or caresses the back of her head- BAM I’m 🤰🤰🤰🤰🤰 he’s perrrfect. He cares sm about her and it shows throughout the book 🥹
the way Jack would feel so helpless when he couldn’t do anything to help so he just held on to her ankle 😫🙏
It’s the way Jack fights himself and tries his best to give Rose the comfort she deserves 🕺🕺🕺
He’s so soft for her, he folds every time Rose wants anything and it’s just the most wholesome thing EVER.
When Rose argues w him just to be annoying and leaves him completely frustrated but he still cherishes every second he gets to spend w her? It makes me so weak for him like pls I just wanna crawl into his chest and create a home called ‘mine!’ 👹👹
AND THAT LOVE CONFESSION IN THE EPILOGUE?????? Stab me in the heart why don’t u 🤕🤕🤕🤕
I’ll never get over how sexy asf they are together like them simply holding hands got me screaming. And them kissing?! 😮💨 AND THE SMUT? 🫦🫦 Damn, I forgot how hot those scenes were 🤭
The dialogue, the inner monologue EVERYTHING in this book was perfection. I just cannot stop thinking about them.
If it was up to me I’d be stuck in a loop rereading JackRoseDiaries forevermore 😣❤️🩹 they’re so fucking adorable and precious and wholesome and gahhhhhhh every synonym for lovable in every language, it’s them for me.
*
╰┈➤ ❝ “How do I look, Jack?”
“Like death warmed over,” I said.
I could hear the smile in her voice when she responded a few seconds later. “I can always count on you for compliments, can’t I?”
“That’s why I’m here, isn’t it?” ❞
╰┈➤ ❝ “I don’t think I know how to do this.”
“Do what?”
“Rely on someone. Lean on someone. I feel like I’m messing it up.”
“I want to be that person to you, Rose. I want to be the person you lean on. You and I, we’re the same. We have no one but each other. You’ll lean on me and I’ll do the same. We’ll learn how. We’re in this together.” ❞
~PLSSSSS
𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲:
Listening to desi love songs while reading this specific book hits that spot like no other 🤌🤌🤌 the vibes are unmatched
𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀: 🎧
Violets — kid Travis
Tere vaaste — Varun Jain
Neray neray vas — Soch the band x butt brothers
On schedule — ASTN
Heaven — Thilo
Sweettalk My Heart — Tove Lo
The outside — Filip Rudan
Together — Joseph Tilley
Know me — Anthony de La Torre
Gimme love — lyre (sped up)
Tere vaaste — Varun Jain (sped up)
El cielo — Thilo
Till death do us part — Rosenfeld
Naseeb se — Payal dev, Vishal Mishra
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
#𝟮 𝗥𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 - 𝗔𝘂𝗴 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 - ೃ⁀➷ 𝟱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀
JackRose are mother and father. I love them sfm it’s unhealthy. No one can do it like JackRose, it’s true 💅✨👑
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
#𝟭 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 - 𝗦𝗲𝗽 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭 - ೃ⁀➷ 𝟱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀
AAAAHHHHH! This book was amazing!
Jack Hawthorne and Rose just did it for me.
I loved all the tropes. I loved the fact that it was so simple and that all the emotions were just there laid out bare. The communication — forced and otherwise — had me melting pls I loved it sfm. Gahhh it was sooo cuteeee ❤️ one of my ultimate favs!
May 9, 2019
A slow burn romance that will have your toes curling for the unexpected, yet endearing love and passion that comes from Jack and Rose...
Let's begin this review by simply stating that Ella Maise is a hidden treasure that needs to be expanding more and more, and be cherished in the romance world. She already is but she needs more attention that's for sure because there is no denying that the true magic that flows from her words is something that is forever engraved in my heart and mind. Ella as an author has so much power in her words and characters make you fall in love with them through every aspect. Ella warned me that this book would not be my cup of tea because of the slow burn, and she was right about 35% through the novel. The rest of the novel however, Jack just became this rugged, yet emotionless expressive kind of character that made me want to keep on reading until Rose would finally be able to cram him. There is also no denying that this novel would not be a novel that I would actually go out of my way to reading or signing up for because of the slow burn. And because I am not never NOT honest in my reviews, the only reason why I truly enjoyed this masterpiece is because it was written by the sweetly minded, yet dirty thinker that is Ella. Though you also have to admit that the synopsis is one that hooked me in, and if you have not read it yet... GO AND READ IT RIGHT NOW!
Now, lets talk about the story shall we? Because I made way too many quoted highlights on my kindle that I don't know what to share! Jack Hawthorne... Oh our dear Jack... He is just indescribable in the best of ways that's for sure. The aura that oozes from him, the confidence, the determination, is what makes Jack Hawthorne the character that he is truly meant to be. When we read Rose's pov, you sense that confidence in him. However, when reading his pov, you can also sense that silent tone of him being afraid of the truth revealing when it comes down to the relationship he has with Rose. But keeping the truth from her does not prevent him from being honest with her in other ways that as a reader, melts my heart;
What can we say about Rose? There is something about her ambience that oozes that confidence that Jack has as well, yet she is this semi-timid individual who is also willing to do whatever it takes to make her dreams come true. In this case, it is the fact that she wants to open up her coffee shop. With the help of Jack and their "fake" marriage, she slowly learns that anything is possible when you are determined to keep your head held high. That's what I love about her, she is this strong young woman who was put in a situation she did not want to be granted in, yet finds a way to make herself stronger and not loose her true identity as a woman. But she also knows hat if she gets too close to Jack, there is no turning back at how broken she will be. Some risks are worth taking, and when she took that risk, denying the love she has for Jack is the one thing she cannot do;
Overall, this story has truly taken my breath away with all the surprises I was able to find. All the hidden ways of writing that I was not expecting to read coming from Ella. Especially during the intimate scenes. I felt like I was slapped in the face when Jack and Rose finally hit did the deed, if you know what I mean... But overly surprised is an understatement that needs a praise from everyone. So make sure to grab yourself a copy of this beauty, and of course add it to your TBR because missing out on the story that is Jack Hawthorne is a sin itself.
ARC kindly provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review...
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Let's begin this review by simply stating that Ella Maise is a hidden treasure that needs to be expanding more and more, and be cherished in the romance world. She already is but she needs more attention that's for sure because there is no denying that the true magic that flows from her words is something that is forever engraved in my heart and mind. Ella as an author has so much power in her words and characters make you fall in love with them through every aspect. Ella warned me that this book would not be my cup of tea because of the slow burn, and she was right about 35% through the novel. The rest of the novel however, Jack just became this rugged, yet emotionless expressive kind of character that made me want to keep on reading until Rose would finally be able to cram him. There is also no denying that this novel would not be a novel that I would actually go out of my way to reading or signing up for because of the slow burn. And because I am not never NOT honest in my reviews, the only reason why I truly enjoyed this masterpiece is because it was written by the sweetly minded, yet dirty thinker that is Ella. Though you also have to admit that the synopsis is one that hooked me in, and if you have not read it yet... GO AND READ IT RIGHT NOW!
Now, lets talk about the story shall we? Because I made way too many quoted highlights on my kindle that I don't know what to share! Jack Hawthorne... Oh our dear Jack... He is just indescribable in the best of ways that's for sure. The aura that oozes from him, the confidence, the determination, is what makes Jack Hawthorne the character that he is truly meant to be. When we read Rose's pov, you sense that confidence in him. However, when reading his pov, you can also sense that silent tone of him being afraid of the truth revealing when it comes down to the relationship he has with Rose. But keeping the truth from her does not prevent him from being honest with her in other ways that as a reader, melts my heart;
"I want to be that person to you, rose. I want to be the person you lean on. You and I, we're the same. We have no one but each other. You'll lean on me and I'l do the same. We'll learn how. we're in this together..."
What can we say about Rose? There is something about her ambience that oozes that confidence that Jack has as well, yet she is this semi-timid individual who is also willing to do whatever it takes to make her dreams come true. In this case, it is the fact that she wants to open up her coffee shop. With the help of Jack and their "fake" marriage, she slowly learns that anything is possible when you are determined to keep your head held high. That's what I love about her, she is this strong young woman who was put in a situation she did not want to be granted in, yet finds a way to make herself stronger and not loose her true identity as a woman. But she also knows hat if she gets too close to Jack, there is no turning back at how broken she will be. Some risks are worth taking, and when she took that risk, denying the love she has for Jack is the one thing she cannot do;
"My husband was perfect. With all his arrogance and prickliness, Jack Hawthorne was perfect for me.
He wasn't what I'd had in mind or even what I'd wanted for myself, but he was perfect and already mine, truly mine. There was no doubt of that in my mind..."
Overall, this story has truly taken my breath away with all the surprises I was able to find. All the hidden ways of writing that I was not expecting to read coming from Ella. Especially during the intimate scenes. I felt like I was slapped in the face when Jack and Rose finally hit did the deed, if you know what I mean... But overly surprised is an understatement that needs a praise from everyone. So make sure to grab yourself a copy of this beauty, and of course add it to your TBR because missing out on the story that is Jack Hawthorne is a sin itself.
ARC kindly provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review...
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May 26, 2019
Full disclosure, I gave up at the 40% mark to take a nap (you make of that what you may). I would say the best thing about this book is that cover. My opinion, of course.
May 6, 2019
’MARRIAGE FOR ONE: Is a full length romance novel by author Ella Maise. Spoken in ‘Dual Perspectives’
Rose's dream since she was eighteen years old was to open up her own coffee shop, something that would solely be hers. But that dream was merely a pipe dream, just when it's nearly in her grasp it's ripped right out of her fingers.
Enter Jack: He can help her but it comes with strings attached. And this is where it all started. A loveless marriage of convenience between two strangers for two years, all in the name of a business transaction, then they would go their separate ways. As one would say were doomed from the start.
The man Rose was about to marry could've been created by stone going by how he didn't show his emotions. A frown had set up residence on his handsome face permanently. The man didn't know how to smile. 'The number of times Jack Hawthorne smiled: Zero.' He was standoffish, this prickly and rough around the edges man, arrogant at times. Aloof.
Easiest five stars given!! My heart so many times whilst reading this was ready to combust!! Overloaded with love for these two characters!! This was such a slow burn sink into your soul kind of read, I loved everything about it!! It was heartbreaking, emotional, but so worth the hours I was stuck within the pages reading.
Just perfection at its best!! Unique, unputdownable, utterly captivating, an emotional journey that started backwards but finished perfectly!!
I fell in love with Jack Hawthorne right at the beginning, he’d crawled under my skin before I even knew it, he'd charmed his way into my heart, I lapped up his words, his frowns, his one liners to his deeply caring nature. Together they were the perfect match. I couldn't get enough of them. Add in the secondary characters (Rose's two assistants) with everything crossed I hope we get their book!!
Highly recommend!! This book was EVERYTHING!! There is NOTHING I would change about this Marriage for One!!
December 21, 2024
Re-read #2 (12/19/2024) 5 Stars.
This book will forever be a favorite of mine because it feels like it was made of all of us book girlies who dream of opening their cafe/bookstore, who are soft inside, who love cozy nights in, who rarely ask for help, who enjoy a good slowburn, who could get distracted by a guy’s forearm, who loves being taken care of, and whose favorite book trope is marriage of convenience.
5 stars
I think that this book was worth almost failing my exam for.
I was so looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately, i got it on the day before my final exam. I was like “i’m just gonna check it out. See if it’s good. Make sure that it’s worth the wait.” And you know what?
I couldn’t stop!!
Not one of my smartest decisions, but I just couldn’t.
Let me just say that I really do love the marriage of convenience trope. I love watching them acting like “yeah we are cool. There’s nothing happening between us. It’s all just pretending.” Then I love when things start getting blurry where they can no longer know whether they’re pretending or not and try to figure out how they truly feel about each other. This is exactly what this book about.
Also this was a slow burn romance. And I really love slow burn romances!!! For some readers, the beginning of the book might seems boring and lack some action, but for me it was extremely enjoyable. I kept begging for more. It made me swoon and giggle like a fool. Rose and Jack didn’t need each other to be saved, but they choose each other and I really liked that.
Rose was a really adorable heroine. I loved her independence and strength and how funny she was. Also I really loved when she would start bickering with Jack and pushing him.
Jack was so swoon-worthy. He’s so charming without even trying. So caring, so loving, and when he frowns? Oh I just love his frowns!!
This book was really enjoyable. I was so into their story. I loved their moments, Their love story was so engaging and warm.
This book will forever be a favorite of mine because it feels like it was made of all of us book girlies who dream of opening their cafe/bookstore, who are soft inside, who love cozy nights in, who rarely ask for help, who enjoy a good slowburn, who could get distracted by a guy’s forearm, who loves being taken care of, and whose favorite book trope is marriage of convenience.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5 stars
"I want to be that person to you, rose. I want to be the person you lean on. You and I, we're the same. We have no one but each other. You'll lean on me and I'l do the same. We'll learn how. we're in this together..."
I think that this book was worth almost failing my exam for.
I was so looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately, i got it on the day before my final exam. I was like “i’m just gonna check it out. See if it’s good. Make sure that it’s worth the wait.” And you know what?
I couldn’t stop!!
Not one of my smartest decisions, but I just couldn’t.
Let me just say that I really do love the marriage of convenience trope. I love watching them acting like “yeah we are cool. There’s nothing happening between us. It’s all just pretending.” Then I love when things start getting blurry where they can no longer know whether they’re pretending or not and try to figure out how they truly feel about each other. This is exactly what this book about.
Also this was a slow burn romance. And I really love slow burn romances!!! For some readers, the beginning of the book might seems boring and lack some action, but for me it was extremely enjoyable. I kept begging for more. It made me swoon and giggle like a fool. Rose and Jack didn’t need each other to be saved, but they choose each other and I really liked that.
"My husband was perfect. With all his arrogance and prickliness, Jack Hawthorne was perfect for me.
He wasn’t what I’d had in mind or even what I’d wanted for myself, but he was perfect and already mine.”
Rose was a really adorable heroine. I loved her independence and strength and how funny she was. Also I really loved when she would start bickering with Jack and pushing him.
Jack was so swoon-worthy. He’s so charming without even trying. So caring, so loving, and when he frowns? Oh I just love his frowns!!
This book was really enjoyable. I was so into their story. I loved their moments, Their love story was so engaging and warm.
Read
December 23, 2019I have a BIG SURPRISE for you that you really don't want to miss out on! Actually, kinda like a small Christmas gift from me to you. I wrote a little short story about Jack&Rose (an extra scene kinda thing that is pretty long).
I'll be sending it out to my newsletter subscribers in a few days. If you're missing Jack and Rose like I've been missing them, make sure you sign up before you miss your chance! You can sign up for my newsletter right here -->http://eepurl.com/dqRRkT
(Also, just in case you're worrying, don't. I only send out an email when I have a new cover, a book release or an extra scene you wouldn't want to miss out on.)
Marriage For One is now LIVE!!! Are you planning on meeting Jack & Rose? I hope you do! They own my heart. And if you love slow burn, this is it. This is the one for you! (I hope) <3 I'm so over the moon about this release!
Paperback - https://amzn.to/2V6t5uh
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2DZnrUS
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2J6SCSo"
May 12, 2019
I'm absolutely in the minority with this story, but I didn't completely love this one.
The way this started out felt fake and unbelievable. Jack proposing a fake marriage in order for Rose to get her coffee shop for a very short time, and Rose jumped at the chance. Her actions made her look superficial and material, but it got this MOC story started. Shortly after the marriage, Jack was distant towards Rose. Only giving her brief replies when she'd talk to him, leaving her alone for a while right after they were married. From the blurb, I expected Jack to be some kind of cold a-hole towards Rose, but he truly wasn't. Jack might have acted a bit distant towards Rose, but he still treated Rose very good from the very beginning of this story to the end. The story felt really long and drawn out though. Once these two were married, not much happened for most of the rest of the story. Jack and Rose just did normal life stuff, but a TON of normal life stuff. They painted and got the coffee shop set up, then they just lived. The story was mostly about them working-Jack disappearing off to do his job and lots about Rose selling coffee and food at her shop, then the story revolved around these two eating and talking going out to work event, etc. Every once in a while Rose would (self pityingly and annoyingly) fling it into Jack's face that the marriage wasn't real and that he was doing more for her than he signed up for. and then (DUN DUN DUN!!!) Rose's ex douche fiancé tells Rose Jack's DREADED secret.
I was positive with all the secrecy and the warnings from Jack's assistant that he was never going to be forgiven if Rose found out "the true" reason he wanted to marry her, that Jack has some kind of selfish or nefarious reasoning behind his actions. The ending was just okay. I'm the odd man out on this one, but for me it was a very long boring story for the most part, and I never felt a real connection with either main character.
November 21, 2019
11/21/19: so damn glad i picked this back up on audio. the male narration was drool worthy and i grinned like an idiot the whole time i listened to this. SUPER slow burn, a lot of people will think it’s boring. but i adored it ❤️
10/24/19: on pause for now
coming to the sad realization that i can't just "read whatever" at the end of the year. and since this wasn't for a video, i'll have to come back to it.
this is a pretty slow moving book tho and it is quite lonf
10/24/19: on pause for now
coming to the sad realization that i can't just "read whatever" at the end of the year. and since this wasn't for a video, i'll have to come back to it.
this is a pretty slow moving book tho and it is quite lonf
September 26, 2020
4.25 stars
I’ve read one other book by Ella Maise, and since then I’ve always wanted to read more. This book has been recommended to me many times and I see why- It was such a great read. I love a good slow burn and the marriage of convince troupe!
Jack and Rose are complete strangers the day they meet, but Jack asks Rose to marry him. and because it would benefit them both in a big way, she says yes. At first they’re just married on paper, but with time, it becomes more.
I adored Jack so much! Especially once I found out more of his backstory. He cared about Rose and truly loved her and she fell for him as well. I loved the build up of their romance and watching them fall in love.
I listened to the audiobook of Marriage for One and it was narrated by Stella Bloom and Lance Greenfield who both did a great job voicing Rose and Jack. This was a longer audiobook, but I felt like it flew by. I never wanted to press pause.
This was such a gorgeous and passionate romance. I highly recommend to all readers who love a good slow burn romance with a broody yet swoony hero!
I’ve read one other book by Ella Maise, and since then I’ve always wanted to read more. This book has been recommended to me many times and I see why- It was such a great read. I love a good slow burn and the marriage of convince troupe!
Jack and Rose are complete strangers the day they meet, but Jack asks Rose to marry him. and because it would benefit them both in a big way, she says yes. At first they’re just married on paper, but with time, it becomes more.
“I want to be that person to you, Rose. I want to be the person you lean on. You and I, we’re the same. We have no one but each other. You’ll lean on me and I’ll do the same. We’ll learn how. We’re in this together.”
I adored Jack so much! Especially once I found out more of his backstory. He cared about Rose and truly loved her and she fell for him as well. I loved the build up of their romance and watching them fall in love.
I listened to the audiobook of Marriage for One and it was narrated by Stella Bloom and Lance Greenfield who both did a great job voicing Rose and Jack. This was a longer audiobook, but I felt like it flew by. I never wanted to press pause.
This was such a gorgeous and passionate romance. I highly recommend to all readers who love a good slow burn romance with a broody yet swoony hero!
May 21, 2022
i swear slowburn fake relationships, grumpyxsunshine, and when the guy is literally obsessed with her will always get me,
This is my weakness
I absoluetly love this book, and everyone else should read it too!!
rtc when i feel like it
This is my weakness
I absoluetly love this book, and everyone else should read it too!!
rtc when i feel like it
September 20, 2023
2.5⭐️ I really wanted to love this 🥺
this was very cute. my biggest issue though was that I found both mmc and fmc to be unrelatable, it made the story a bit boring and the chemistry between them seemed forced and just off (ps I almost always have this exact issue with marriage of convenience trope) 😬
another issue was that the story writing flow had noticeable holes. It felt like each time, the author wrote a few chapters and took a break, she came back and continued writing without connecting the new chapters to the previous ones. It left me wondering if a couple of pages were ripped out of my copy 😔
another issue was literally every activity that happened in this book was repetitive (I wish I were exaggerating 😭). From coffee to partner meetings to painting to rolling sleeves to awkward PDA to messy inner monologues to dinner events. Did Ms. Maise write a 50 page story and repeat it multiple times?
***
my first Ella Maise novel, I'm going in blind 🫶🏽🫶🏽
this was very cute. my biggest issue though was that I found both mmc and fmc to be unrelatable, it made the story a bit boring and the chemistry between them seemed forced and just off (ps I almost always have this exact issue with marriage of convenience trope) 😬
another issue was that the story writing flow had noticeable holes. It felt like each time, the author wrote a few chapters and took a break, she came back and continued writing without connecting the new chapters to the previous ones. It left me wondering if a couple of pages were ripped out of my copy 😔
another issue was literally every activity that happened in this book was repetitive (I wish I were exaggerating 😭). From coffee to partner meetings to painting to rolling sleeves to awkward PDA to messy inner monologues to dinner events. Did Ms. Maise write a 50 page story and repeat it multiple times?
***
my first Ella Maise novel, I'm going in blind 🫶🏽🫶🏽
April 20, 2023
RE-READ bc I miss Jack and Rose
AHHH It's just as perfect as the first time I read it!! I love them, one of my fave book couples ever. 💙💙💙
Original Review
We are no longer accepting applications for the job of GOLD STANDARD for the grumpy/sunshine and arranged marriage trope!
The position has been FILLED!!!!!
I devoured this book! I absolutely loved it! Jack Hawthorne has rewritten the code for book boyfriends.
He was grumpy, he was noble, he was all of it!!!! I loved Rose too. I liked she was so comfortable in her skin and even though she was sunshine and quirky she wasn't a pushover or annoying.
The writing, humor, pacing, plot twists I thought were perfectly laid out. I know I'm late to party bc this has been out a minute but I'm so glad I read it!
AHHH It's just as perfect as the first time I read it!! I love them, one of my fave book couples ever. 💙💙💙
Original Review
We are no longer accepting applications for the job of GOLD STANDARD for the grumpy/sunshine and arranged marriage trope!
The position has been FILLED!!!!!
I devoured this book! I absolutely loved it! Jack Hawthorne has rewritten the code for book boyfriends.
He was grumpy, he was noble, he was all of it!!!! I loved Rose too. I liked she was so comfortable in her skin and even though she was sunshine and quirky she wasn't a pushover or annoying.
The writing, humor, pacing, plot twists I thought were perfectly laid out. I know I'm late to party bc this has been out a minute but I'm so glad I read it!
January 15, 2023
🎧 2nd Read, Nov. 2021 — 3.75 Stars
📚 1st Read, July 2021 — 3.75 Stars
Oy, this is the more civilized, fluffy version of The Bad Guy by author Celia Aaron! Instead of kidnapping, you’ve got marriage of convenience; and, instead of Stockholm Syndrome, you’ve got forced proximity. Meanwhile, both have similar: ‘meet-cute’ (when the hero first sees the heroine) moment; type of gruff, stoic hero; and slimy, pervy ex-boyfriend/OM drama. In any case (and most importantly), it’s a grumpy/sunshine slow burn galore in this house and we are here for it!!!
The motive behind the marriage proposal was rather far-fetched despite it being explained more thoroughly towards the end, but I didn’t really care because I totally enjoyed seeing the relationship bloomed between the MCs. That said, I had difficulties gauging the hero’s feelings for the heroine even though the book was written in dual POVs. His thoughts didn’t exactly reveal that he was simping. He was just sooo closed off, aloof, and expressionless. I legit wondered if he was on the spectrum.
On another note, the main conflict hinged on the hero not being fully transparent with ‘something,’ and he didn’t admit to it until the last 20%—so you have the (drawn out) ‘withholding secrets’ trope. In addition, there were no other drama or subplots. Thus, the book felt uneventful and too lengthy at times. Some of the dialogues were cringey or stiff or just didn’t flow seamlessly, though not so much that I was turned off.
I know it looked like I criticized the book more than I praised it. However, considering my history with this author (might’ve read two and DNF-ed one of her books and they were all meh/bleh), this book was a lot more readable for me. Besides, what did I tell you?!?!? FORGET FAKE DATING, MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE IS SUPERIOR AND IT ALWAYS SLAPS. Also, fun fact, I don’t have the same condition as the heroine (mine is rhinitis), but I felt her misery with the whole runny nose thing.
May 31, 2024
･:*:･ﾟ⁀➷ 3.5/5 ★
This was a lot of fun! 🫶🫶 I had a few issues that prevented me from loving it as much as i wanted to, but the marriage of convenience trope was done so well 💙✨️
➷ “I don’t have a home to go back to anymore, Rose.” I stopped, but didn’t look at him. “You’re my home,” he finished.”
Tropes:
💍Marriage of convenience
💍Grumpy x sunshine
💍Dual pov
💍Spicy (2/5🌶️)
I’ve seen so many good reviews for this one and so i was excited to pick it up. And while i did really enjoy it, it wasn’t quite as amazing as i thought it would be- i’m so sorry 😭😭
ೃ⁀➷ Writing & plot:
This was my first ella maise book and while i’m not running to read more of her books, i could see myself giving her books a second chance at some point. I honestly thought the plot of this book was pretty good! 🥰🥰 I liked seeing Rose set up her coffee shop and there was enough going on outside of the romance to keep me interested the whole time. This book was over 500 pages, which is so long for a romance, but i never wanted to stop reading and it was really easy to binge.
However, i wasn’t obsessed with ella maise’s writing style. This may just be me being super picky, but her writing felt a little unpolished to me 🫣
➷ “I want to be that person to you, Rose. I want to be the person you lean on. You and I, we’re the same. We have no one but each other. You’ll lean on me and I’ll do the same. We’ll learn how. We’re in this together.”
ೃ⁀➷ Characters:
I liked the characters! They weren’t my absolute fav but i did feel connected to them by the end of the book 🌷
➵ Rose: i thought she was a really good fmc!! She was the perfect amount of sunshine- not too annoying, but her bubbly personality worked perfectly with jack’s grumpiness 🫶🫶
➵ Jack: i also really enjoyed his character. He was not TOO grumpy but seeing his open up slowly to rose had me giggling & kicking my feet. When he smiled for the first time?! 🤭🤭 I had the stupidest grin on my face. Plus the way he thought about rose in his pov was so cute 🥹💗
➷ “I’m right here, Rose,” he whispered, his rough voice washing over me like a caress that fired something up inside me. “I might not be what you wanted or needed, but you got me anyway. I’m right here.”
ೃ⁀➷ Romance:
The romance was really good!! ✨️ The marriage of convenience and grumpy x sunshine tropes were done SO WELL in here. I honestly thought the pacing of the romance was done really well and seeing rose & jack develop an emotional connection was soo sweet. Jack being super protective of rose also had me giggling a lot 🤭🤭 There was sm chemistry between the two of them and i thought the romance was done really well.
However, i didn’t really love the physical aspect of the relationship. It felt like sex completely overtook their emotional connection in the last part of the book, which kinda annoyed me 🫣 Plus the third act conflict was so infuriating. I swear if miscommunication happens ONE MORE TIME 🔪
➷ “That just happened, right? You want to ... you want us to date? As in be boyfriend and girlfriend?"
He gave me a long look, "More like husband and wife, don't you think?”
ೃ⁀➷ In conclusion:
I wish i loved this as much as everyone else did. But i still had a lot of fun and i would definitely recommend if you’re looking for:
✔️ Super bingeable writing
✔️ Great characters
✔️ Lots of chemistry
✔️ Fun romance
It’s definitely a fun summer romance read 💙💙
《 2024 Challenge: Book 62 of 115 》
･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ
ೃ⁀➷ pre-review:
➷ the marriage of convenience trope done right 🫶 there were a few things that kept me from loving it as much as i wanted to (*cough* miscommunication *cough*) but it was a fun time overall! 🥹🥹
rtc 💙
･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ
ೃ⁀➷ preread:
➷ i'm still in a huge romance mood, so giving this one a try! 🩵🩵 i've heard great things so hopefully it's good🤞
This was a lot of fun! 🫶🫶 I had a few issues that prevented me from loving it as much as i wanted to, but the marriage of convenience trope was done so well 💙✨️
➷ “I don’t have a home to go back to anymore, Rose.” I stopped, but didn’t look at him. “You’re my home,” he finished.”
Tropes:
💍Marriage of convenience
💍Grumpy x sunshine
💍Dual pov
💍Spicy (2/5🌶️)
I’ve seen so many good reviews for this one and so i was excited to pick it up. And while i did really enjoy it, it wasn’t quite as amazing as i thought it would be- i’m so sorry 😭😭
ೃ⁀➷ Writing & plot:
This was my first ella maise book and while i’m not running to read more of her books, i could see myself giving her books a second chance at some point. I honestly thought the plot of this book was pretty good! 🥰🥰 I liked seeing Rose set up her coffee shop and there was enough going on outside of the romance to keep me interested the whole time. This book was over 500 pages, which is so long for a romance, but i never wanted to stop reading and it was really easy to binge.
However, i wasn’t obsessed with ella maise’s writing style. This may just be me being super picky, but her writing felt a little unpolished to me 🫣
➷ “I want to be that person to you, Rose. I want to be the person you lean on. You and I, we’re the same. We have no one but each other. You’ll lean on me and I’ll do the same. We’ll learn how. We’re in this together.”
ೃ⁀➷ Characters:
I liked the characters! They weren’t my absolute fav but i did feel connected to them by the end of the book 🌷
➵ Rose: i thought she was a really good fmc!! She was the perfect amount of sunshine- not too annoying, but her bubbly personality worked perfectly with jack’s grumpiness 🫶🫶
➵ Jack: i also really enjoyed his character. He was not TOO grumpy but seeing his open up slowly to rose had me giggling & kicking my feet. When he smiled for the first time?! 🤭🤭 I had the stupidest grin on my face. Plus the way he thought about rose in his pov was so cute 🥹💗
➷ “I’m right here, Rose,” he whispered, his rough voice washing over me like a caress that fired something up inside me. “I might not be what you wanted or needed, but you got me anyway. I’m right here.”
ೃ⁀➷ Romance:
The romance was really good!! ✨️ The marriage of convenience and grumpy x sunshine tropes were done SO WELL in here. I honestly thought the pacing of the romance was done really well and seeing rose & jack develop an emotional connection was soo sweet. Jack being super protective of rose also had me giggling a lot 🤭🤭 There was sm chemistry between the two of them and i thought the romance was done really well.
However, i didn’t really love the physical aspect of the relationship. It felt like sex completely overtook their emotional connection in the last part of the book, which kinda annoyed me 🫣 Plus the third act conflict was so infuriating. I swear if miscommunication happens ONE MORE TIME 🔪
➷ “That just happened, right? You want to ... you want us to date? As in be boyfriend and girlfriend?"
He gave me a long look, "More like husband and wife, don't you think?”
ೃ⁀➷ In conclusion:
I wish i loved this as much as everyone else did. But i still had a lot of fun and i would definitely recommend if you’re looking for:
✔️ Super bingeable writing
✔️ Great characters
✔️ Lots of chemistry
✔️ Fun romance
It’s definitely a fun summer romance read 💙💙
《 2024 Challenge: Book 62 of 115 》
･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ
ೃ⁀➷ pre-review:
➷ the marriage of convenience trope done right 🫶 there were a few things that kept me from loving it as much as i wanted to (*cough* miscommunication *cough*) but it was a fun time overall! 🥹🥹
rtc 💙
･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ･:*:･ﾟ
ೃ⁀➷ preread:
➷ i'm still in a huge romance mood, so giving this one a try! 🩵🩵 i've heard great things so hopefully it's good🤞
May 19, 2025
5 stars
This book was so, so sweet and heartwarming. I enjoyed and loved every bit of it. I didn’t expect much from it because it was kind of overhyped by Bookstagram, but I was wrong, and I ended up falling in love with Rose and Jack Hawthorne.
The story starts with Rose and Jack’s wedding scene. They were getting married, but just for a mere business deal—nothing else. It took Jack Hawthorne only a few minutes to talk Rose Coleson into a “business deal”, which was their marriage. He is Jack Hawthorne, the adorable and cutest grumpy man with a permanent frown on his face, so of course, it didn’t take much to convince Rose to agree to this arrangement. The story then follows how they try to pretend their marriage is fake, but in reality, they weren’t pretending—because they both fell in love with each other.
I love Ella Maise’s writing style because it’s simple yet so beautiful. Sometimes, simple is good. The story was beautiful, and the plot twist at the end—why Jack did all that he did—was perfectly laid out. The pacing was just right—not too fast, not too slow.
Rose Hawthorne is sunshine coffee shop owner. She is passionate, sweet, caring, and incredibly lovable. I’m so happy she found Jack because all her life, she thought she had no one by her side—no family. She is very talkative, but not in an annoying way. Rose is obsessed with Jack’s forearms, and honestly, count me in too. I love everything about her.
“That’s how the universe works: it gives you the one thing you said you’d never want.”
Jack Hawthorne is the cutest grump. I swear, he may look grumpy all the time with his permanent frown, but he is the sweetest and most adorable man—at least when it comes to Rose. I am so in love with this man. He is amazing, respectful, caring, and incredibly sweet. There is nothing to hate about him. Nothing. And the way Jack compliments Rose is everything. He is not a man of words, but when it comes to complimenting Rose, he always knows what to say. “You look tired, Rose. You look awful, Rose. You look like a mess. You look like hell.” I am living for his beautiful compliments.
“I want to be that person to you, Rose. I want to be the person you lean on. You and I, we’re the same. We have no one but each other. You’ll lean on me, and I’ll do the same. We’ll learn how. We’re in this together.”
Rose and Jack are so adorable and cute. I thought it would be just another marriage-of-convenience story, but it was so, so good. It was sweet, cute, fluffy, and adorable, with the perfect amount of spice. Their banter was so good. This book has everything—slow burn, sexual tension, banter, secrets, spice, grumpy-sunshine dynamics, and the best characters. Jack helped Rose open her dream coffee shop, which was so sweet. He even helped her with her uncle’s will case—all just by marrying her. What an absolutely amazing planner he is.
When Rose got sick, he was there for her every time because she was scared of hospitals. The way he held her ankle when she was having an MRI because she was claustrophobic was just so sweet. I love these two adorable dorks so much—they have all of my heart. I absolutely loved all the small gestures Jack did for Rose. This man is just so perfect. It actually showed how their relationship grew stronger and how they slowly fell for each other.
The divorce part broke me. But I really loved the angst and grovelling from Jack, and how he earned Rose’s love again. It was perfect. I love Rose and Jack so much.
I need more of their story. This was not enough. It will never be enough for me when it comes to Rose and Jack. Crying in a corner right now because there is no Jack Hawthorne in my life who would offer to marry me for a business deal.
The epilogue was perfect. I really loved seeing this couple so happy and in love! I was screaming and crying when I found out they were having a baby. They both deserved this and so much more.
“You and I. It’s always you and I from now on.”
This book was so, so sweet and heartwarming. I enjoyed and loved every bit of it. I didn’t expect much from it because it was kind of overhyped by Bookstagram, but I was wrong, and I ended up falling in love with Rose and Jack Hawthorne.
The story starts with Rose and Jack’s wedding scene. They were getting married, but just for a mere business deal—nothing else. It took Jack Hawthorne only a few minutes to talk Rose Coleson into a “business deal”, which was their marriage. He is Jack Hawthorne, the adorable and cutest grumpy man with a permanent frown on his face, so of course, it didn’t take much to convince Rose to agree to this arrangement. The story then follows how they try to pretend their marriage is fake, but in reality, they weren’t pretending—because they both fell in love with each other.
“I might not be what you wanted or needed, but you got me anyway. I’m right here.”
I love Ella Maise’s writing style because it’s simple yet so beautiful. Sometimes, simple is good. The story was beautiful, and the plot twist at the end—why Jack did all that he did—was perfectly laid out. The pacing was just right—not too fast, not too slow.
Rose Hawthorne is sunshine coffee shop owner. She is passionate, sweet, caring, and incredibly lovable. I’m so happy she found Jack because all her life, she thought she had no one by her side—no family. She is very talkative, but not in an annoying way. Rose is obsessed with Jack’s forearms, and honestly, count me in too. I love everything about her.
“That’s how the universe works: it gives you the one thing you said you’d never want.”
Jack Hawthorne is the cutest grump. I swear, he may look grumpy all the time with his permanent frown, but he is the sweetest and most adorable man—at least when it comes to Rose. I am so in love with this man. He is amazing, respectful, caring, and incredibly sweet. There is nothing to hate about him. Nothing. And the way Jack compliments Rose is everything. He is not a man of words, but when it comes to complimenting Rose, he always knows what to say. “You look tired, Rose. You look awful, Rose. You look like a mess. You look like hell.” I am living for his beautiful compliments.
“I want to be that person to you, Rose. I want to be the person you lean on. You and I, we’re the same. We have no one but each other. You’ll lean on me, and I’ll do the same. We’ll learn how. We’re in this together.”
Rose and Jack are so adorable and cute. I thought it would be just another marriage-of-convenience story, but it was so, so good. It was sweet, cute, fluffy, and adorable, with the perfect amount of spice. Their banter was so good. This book has everything—slow burn, sexual tension, banter, secrets, spice, grumpy-sunshine dynamics, and the best characters. Jack helped Rose open her dream coffee shop, which was so sweet. He even helped her with her uncle’s will case—all just by marrying her. What an absolutely amazing planner he is.
“Your heart always has a home with me, Rose. No matter what, never forget that.”
When Rose got sick, he was there for her every time because she was scared of hospitals. The way he held her ankle when she was having an MRI because she was claustrophobic was just so sweet. I love these two adorable dorks so much—they have all of my heart. I absolutely loved all the small gestures Jack did for Rose. This man is just so perfect. It actually showed how their relationship grew stronger and how they slowly fell for each other.
“You are the love of my goddamn life. Somewhere in between all the pretending, I completely fell for you, and I can’t even think of my life without you in it.”
The divorce part broke me. But I really loved the angst and grovelling from Jack, and how he earned Rose’s love again. It was perfect. I love Rose and Jack so much.
“I don’t have a home to go back to anymore, Rose.” I stopped but didn’t look at him. “You’re my home,” he finished.
I need more of their story. This was not enough. It will never be enough for me when it comes to Rose and Jack. Crying in a corner right now because there is no Jack Hawthorne in my life who would offer to marry me for a business deal.
The epilogue was perfect. I really loved seeing this couple so happy and in love! I was screaming and crying when I found out they were having a baby. They both deserved this and so much more.
January 20, 2020
"I was Rose and he was Jack. We were doomed from the very beginning with those names. You know... the Titanic and all that." Ugh I honestly should've just DNF'ed this book after that cheesy as hell line but instead I tortured myself by finishing this. Apparently 2020 for me so far is the year of shitty 2 star reads. This story follows these people Jack and Rose who marry for convenience because she wants a coffee shop that was left to "her husband".
This story was slow and boring and I'm so tired of reading about male love interests like Jack. He's so moody and rude and filthy rich, and he is so hot and cold with Rose, it's honestly exhausting. I expected to love this because I am a huge fan of fake marriage romance stories, but I guess I like a more light-hearted approach to this trope. This book takes itself way too seriously. And it's so repetitive, she ends every chapter with: "The amount of times Jack smiled today: zero" and it's really annoying after the millionth time. He's such a Christian Grey-type of male love interest that is borderline controlling and stalker-ish and I can't stand it. This story just wasn't for me at all.
This story was slow and boring and I'm so tired of reading about male love interests like Jack. He's so moody and rude and filthy rich, and he is so hot and cold with Rose, it's honestly exhausting. I expected to love this because I am a huge fan of fake marriage romance stories, but I guess I like a more light-hearted approach to this trope. This book takes itself way too seriously. And it's so repetitive, she ends every chapter with: "The amount of times Jack smiled today: zero" and it's really annoying after the millionth time. He's such a Christian Grey-type of male love interest that is borderline controlling and stalker-ish and I can't stand it. This story just wasn't for me at all.
January 9, 2020
3.5 stars! I was SO into this in the first half, but as the book went on it really started to drag and I'm SAD. I'm definitely still interested in reading more from Ella Maise because I truly was so into the tension between the characters, but the book as a whole just went on too long for me. Womp :(
January 3, 2021
As much as I wish I could’ve loved this as much as everyone else seems to, the writing didn’t work for me and it was wayyy too long and repetitive.
May 10, 2019
***there may be unintended spoilers***
I think romance genre is where second to Facebook comment section one loses faith in humanity.
The premise of this book was NOT ok. Clearly that’s a personal opinion before people jump to strangle me. You who don’t share my opinion have clearly rated this book higher.
I found this premise disturbing. Why is it ok or acceptable for men to manipulate and then stage women’s life “for their own good”? And then praised by authors and readers. Same readers who would mark a woman with same action as selfish manipulative bitch?
Even leaving the whole gender thing behind. Why is it ok or acceptable for men to manipulate and then stage women’s life “for their own good”? The woman is an adult, present your case, what she does with it is not up to you. Even if you know you have no chance of stopping her from making a mistake, you have to bow out because IT IS NOT YOUR PLACE TO MAKE THE DECISION FOR HER. She has every right to make her own mistakes.
And what was even more disappointing, the H didn’t know, and I have a feeling neither did the author, as to WHAT he did wrong. He never apologised, never grovelled, he’s not remorseful of manipulating h’s life and emotions (which can now be described as Stockholm syndrome) to suit HIS needs, he didn’t come in terms that everything he did was FOR HIMSELF, and yet goes and does another manipulative decision making shit over the h, who from pretending to be a strong woman melts into a pile of goo and at the end of the day still fails to send the message across to the H what he did wrong.
So take note ladies. If you want a guy, or a girl, manipulate everything in their life, get rid of your competition even if they’re in love cause only what you want matters, isolate them from the world in the emotional sense and keep blatantly lying. Only reveal the truth when Stockholm syndrome sets in, when you can sell your BS about your love and magnanimously offer them an out without apologising, acknowledging your fault, or asking what THEY want. It’s always all about you.
On top of that: we have author rating her book as a 5 star read. I no longer feel the reluctance to mark it as one star. Yes I marked it as DNF, that is cause it is a one star book failing to provide me with the necessary attention holding content and since I skipped a lot, it was a total one star experience for me. The author obviously didn’t write the book for other readers, so it shouldn’t matter.
I think romance genre is where second to Facebook comment section one loses faith in humanity.
The premise of this book was NOT ok. Clearly that’s a personal opinion before people jump to strangle me. You who don’t share my opinion have clearly rated this book higher.
I found this premise disturbing. Why is it ok or acceptable for men to manipulate and then stage women’s life “for their own good”? And then praised by authors and readers. Same readers who would mark a woman with same action as selfish manipulative bitch?
Even leaving the whole gender thing behind. Why is it ok or acceptable for men to manipulate and then stage women’s life “for their own good”? The woman is an adult, present your case, what she does with it is not up to you. Even if you know you have no chance of stopping her from making a mistake, you have to bow out because IT IS NOT YOUR PLACE TO MAKE THE DECISION FOR HER. She has every right to make her own mistakes.
And what was even more disappointing, the H didn’t know, and I have a feeling neither did the author, as to WHAT he did wrong. He never apologised, never grovelled, he’s not remorseful of manipulating h’s life and emotions (which can now be described as Stockholm syndrome) to suit HIS needs, he didn’t come in terms that everything he did was FOR HIMSELF, and yet goes and does another manipulative decision making shit over the h, who from pretending to be a strong woman melts into a pile of goo and at the end of the day still fails to send the message across to the H what he did wrong.
So take note ladies. If you want a guy, or a girl, manipulate everything in their life, get rid of your competition even if they’re in love cause only what you want matters, isolate them from the world in the emotional sense and keep blatantly lying. Only reveal the truth when Stockholm syndrome sets in, when you can sell your BS about your love and magnanimously offer them an out without apologising, acknowledging your fault, or asking what THEY want. It’s always all about you.
On top of that: we have author rating her book as a 5 star read. I no longer feel the reluctance to mark it as one star. Yes I marked it as DNF, that is cause it is a one star book failing to provide me with the necessary attention holding content and since I skipped a lot, it was a total one star experience for me. The author obviously didn’t write the book for other readers, so it shouldn’t matter.
May 8, 2019
First off, how much does that cover model look like Sam Hueghan, aka Jamie Fraser from Outlander!? That caught my eye first. Then, when I read the synopsis and saw this was a marriage 0f convenience novel, I was willing to try this new-to-me author!
Rose thought she was going to marry the love of her life while completing her dream and opening her own coffee shop. Instead, she finds herself marrying a man she just met. Jack Hawthorne. Cold and stubborn, Jack offers Rose a business proposition she can't refuse. But the more she melts Jack's cold exterior, the more Rose finds herself falling for her husband.
Holy moly, talk about slow burn! This romance was everything and I was DYING over every touch and every rare smile from Jack when it came to Rose. This romance was just so so cute. I love a good marriage of convenience novel because the two have to pretend to love each other in public and that's when the lines blur between pretend and real feelings. I loved how much Rose would bicker with Jack, even when he wouldn't bicker back. His honesty was so fun and I was obsessed with their relationship.
While the romance was to die for in this book, I absolutely loved getting to know Jack and Rose and their past and current lives. There was a twist that was thrown in that I definitely did not guess and it had me freaking out when it was finally revealed. I didn't want anything to ruin the precious relationship of Jack and Rose!
Overall, I was swooning over this book so much and I was dyyyying over that slow burn. If you're a fan of Mariana Zapata, you are going to LOVE this book! I couldn't recommend it enough!!
Rose thought she was going to marry the love of her life while completing her dream and opening her own coffee shop. Instead, she finds herself marrying a man she just met. Jack Hawthorne. Cold and stubborn, Jack offers Rose a business proposition she can't refuse. But the more she melts Jack's cold exterior, the more Rose finds herself falling for her husband.
Holy moly, talk about slow burn! This romance was everything and I was DYING over every touch and every rare smile from Jack when it came to Rose. This romance was just so so cute. I love a good marriage of convenience novel because the two have to pretend to love each other in public and that's when the lines blur between pretend and real feelings. I loved how much Rose would bicker with Jack, even when he wouldn't bicker back. His honesty was so fun and I was obsessed with their relationship.
While the romance was to die for in this book, I absolutely loved getting to know Jack and Rose and their past and current lives. There was a twist that was thrown in that I definitely did not guess and it had me freaking out when it was finally revealed. I didn't want anything to ruin the precious relationship of Jack and Rose!
Overall, I was swooning over this book so much and I was dyyyying over that slow burn. If you're a fan of Mariana Zapata, you are going to LOVE this book! I couldn't recommend it enough!!
August 21, 2022
[update: 21/08/22] Ella Maise is feeding us so good with new Jack and Rose content. i swear, i will never get sick or tired of getting little snippets into their lives.
i miss them sm, forever and always eurghhhh<3
****
why did it take me so long to pick up this book??
i read three other books by this author back in mid-2020: To Love Jason Thorn, To Hate Adam Connor and The Hardest Fall, and thoroughly enjoyed all of them, but was hesitant to pick this one up. with the length, it’s a little intimidating for a contemporary romance. 350 pages is a maximum limit for me.
and this book is longggggg. like seriously long. probably longer than it needed to be, but i adored every minute of it, so i ain’t complaining. the first quarter was pretty slow for sure and plot wise... yeah, this doesn’t really have a plot. it’s literally 520 pages of Jack and Rose falling in love and being obsessed with each other. and again, i ain’t complaining.
i was too busy obsessing over the characters to give a fuck. im gonna get a bit spoilery now, so just beware.
Jack Hawthorne... this man can trick me into marriage, any day of the week.
the moment he helped Rose paint her coffee shop, i was a goner for this man.
why was this man helping her paint a fucking wall so sexy to me??? i– i was lying in bed, squealing like an idiot bcos this man rolled his shirt sleeves up and began painting a fucking wall.
he had the aloof, mysterious and grumpiness down to pat. it provided just the right amount of intrigue – i think grumpy characters can be difficult to pull off sometimes since you obviously want your readers to connect with them while still maintaining that grumpy, distant facade. so it’s not easy to balance the two. but Ella Maise did so with Jack perfectly in my opinion. i just love that man🥰
for me, the author also nailed the brief intimate moments between them. they were all unique and discreet, but simultaneously noticeable and each one had me internally squealing. it was enough to keep me fed for dayyyyys.
im a whore for that shit, bye👋🏻
like both of them plotting how to get the other to kiss them under the guise of their agreement and not look suspicious bcos they were both so desperate to kiss one another, i–
i loved the way they both observed one another, learning their ticks and tells, what made the other smile and frown... prodding them with that knowledge to make the other smile and frown. you really felt like you were uncovering Jack and Rose bit by bit right along with them. it really came down to all of these soft, brief moments that just ticked all of my goddamn boxes.
slowburn pining with brief moments of intimacy has to be my fave trope. and for it to be done well??
i loved how obsessed Jack was with Rose. this man was whipped from the get go and had zero clue about it. he’d be doing all these super sweet things for her and be like
man was down BAD and didn’t even realise it.
i think the charity ball they went to was my favourite scene of them together? it felt like such a vital turning point. you got to see more of Rose too— how kind and caring, how selfless and giving, how hardworking and loving she is... i loved her just as much as Jack had me in a chokehold.
i loved reading how squishy she was for him. she was adamant that a man like Jack would never be her endgame, that she could never like, never mind love, a guy like him. watching her be proved wrong was *chef’s kiss*
their ✨seggsy✨times were god-tier, ngl. the shit Jack Hawthorne said had me blushing while i was in my bank’s waiting room.
those scenes were worth the wait. bcos the slowburn in this one was slow as fuck but truly delivered the delicious burn that i adore. those brief intimate moments between them perfectly built up to their first kiss, then their first sexual interaction and none of it felt rushed or too drawn out. i loved the pacing honestly. even if this book took me longer to read than it normally would, it was totally worth it.
now, the reasoning behind their marriage in the big reveal was truly one of the dumbest things i have ever read. but did i give a fuck? no. Jack Hawthorne has me by the throat so i didn’t give a fuck.
it was so weak. and random. and just... weird?? but alas, i am a white man’s whore. it is too late for me. i am too far gone to be saved or to give a fuck. so don’t hold it against me, okay? any and all reasons for Jack and Rose to be together are fine in my book, even if it includes a lil blackmail, stalking and endless lying😌
i am now going to stare blankly out of a window, wondering “when will it be my turn?” bcos i want someone to love me like Jack loves Rose, or they ain’t shit. it’s Jack Hawthorne or nothing, bitch.
i miss them sm, forever and always eurghhhh<3
****
why did it take me so long to pick up this book??
i read three other books by this author back in mid-2020: To Love Jason Thorn, To Hate Adam Connor and The Hardest Fall, and thoroughly enjoyed all of them, but was hesitant to pick this one up. with the length, it’s a little intimidating for a contemporary romance. 350 pages is a maximum limit for me.
and this book is longggggg. like seriously long. probably longer than it needed to be, but i adored every minute of it, so i ain’t complaining. the first quarter was pretty slow for sure and plot wise... yeah, this doesn’t really have a plot. it’s literally 520 pages of Jack and Rose falling in love and being obsessed with each other. and again, i ain’t complaining.
i was too busy obsessing over the characters to give a fuck. im gonna get a bit spoilery now, so just beware.
Jack Hawthorne... this man can trick me into marriage, any day of the week.
the moment he helped Rose paint her coffee shop, i was a goner for this man.
Only a few seconds later, his palm circled my wrist and stopped my movements. I only felt the heat of his skin for a quick second, and then it was gone.
Taking the roller from me, he put it back down and then started to roll up his stark white—and extremely expensive—sleeves.
why was this man helping her paint a fucking wall so sexy to me??? i– i was lying in bed, squealing like an idiot bcos this man rolled his shirt sleeves up and began painting a fucking wall.
he had the aloof, mysterious and grumpiness down to pat. it provided just the right amount of intrigue – i think grumpy characters can be difficult to pull off sometimes since you obviously want your readers to connect with them while still maintaining that grumpy, distant facade. so it’s not easy to balance the two. but Ella Maise did so with Jack perfectly in my opinion. i just love that man🥰
I looked down at my hand. Still feeling the warmth and shape of her hand on my skin, I flexed my fingers.
I leaned closer and my lips got dangerously close to her neck, so much so that I got more intimate with her smell. A fresh flowery scent mixed with a fruit, maybe citrus. “I…” It took me a moment to remember what I was going to say and I faltered.
for me, the author also nailed the brief intimate moments between them. they were all unique and discreet, but simultaneously noticeable and each one had me internally squealing. it was enough to keep me fed for dayyyyys.
💫 him grabbing their house-key from his jacket pocket while she was wearing it? immaculate.
💫 him catching the blanket as it fell off her shoulder and brushed her bare skin? show-stopping.
💫 always having his hand on the small of her back? iconic.
💫 the opening day of her coffee shop when he begrudgingly showed up with all of the flowers? legendary.
💫 how they both mindlessly touched and fiddled with the other’s wedding rings? divine.
💫 the way Rose desperately noted very half smile or twist of his lips bcos she couldn’t wait to see him smile fully for the first time – at her? astronomical.
I swore I didn’t breathe for a few seconds and just stood there gawking up at him, entranced.
Finally, finally his mouth curved into a smile. It had only taken us a bit more than a month. It was probably my own fault, but my God! It’d been a long wait, a pretty long wait that had been worth it because when he smiled…when the skin around his eyes gently crinkled, turning his expression into something completely different than what it was when he was frowning…I simply couldn’t stop staring.
im a whore for that shit, bye👋🏻
like both of them plotting how to get the other to kiss them under the guise of their agreement and not look suspicious bcos they were both so desperate to kiss one another, i–
i loved the way they both observed one another, learning their ticks and tells, what made the other smile and frown... prodding them with that knowledge to make the other smile and frown. you really felt like you were uncovering Jack and Rose bit by bit right along with them. it really came down to all of these soft, brief moments that just ticked all of my goddamn boxes.
slowburn pining with brief moments of intimacy has to be my fave trope. and for it to be done well??
Her lips curved up slightly, and my eyes focused on that. Her smile was what had gotten me into this mess that first time we were introduced.
i loved how obsessed Jack was with Rose. this man was whipped from the get go and had zero clue about it. he’d be doing all these super sweet things for her and be like
man was down BAD and didn’t even realise it.
It took me a second to move. I wasn’t sure why I was reluctant to leave, it couldn’t possibly be because I wanted to talk to her more, but there I was just standing there like an idiot.
i think the charity ball they went to was my favourite scene of them together? it felt like such a vital turning point. you got to see more of Rose too— how kind and caring, how selfless and giving, how hardworking and loving she is... i loved her just as much as Jack had me in a chokehold.
i loved reading how squishy she was for him. she was adamant that a man like Jack would never be her endgame, that she could never like, never mind love, a guy like him. watching her be proved wrong was *chef’s kiss*
I couldn’t think of anyone but you.
their ✨seggsy✨times were god-tier, ngl. the shit Jack Hawthorne said had me blushing while i was in my bank’s waiting room.
“How does that feel?”
Her eyes closed. “Thick.”
“Good. You’re so good at taking me, Rose.”
“Open your legs as wide as you can for me, baby,” he muttered, his lips licking and biting my neck. Every kiss caused a full body shiver, and I was sure I would die happy after this. “Hold on to the headboard if you need to.”
“I could fuck you like this for hours.”
Feeling overwhelmed, I chuckled, but then he thrust up all the way in and it turned into another moan. “I think I’d die from pleasure.”
“I would never let you die, just trying to fuck you good.”
those scenes were worth the wait. bcos the slowburn in this one was slow as fuck but truly delivered the delicious burn that i adore. those brief intimate moments between them perfectly built up to their first kiss, then their first sexual interaction and none of it felt rushed or too drawn out. i loved the pacing honestly. even if this book took me longer to read than it normally would, it was totally worth it.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” he said with all the seriousness in the world.
And I think I love you, I wanted to say, but instead I gave him my biggest smile.
now, the reasoning behind their marriage in the big reveal was truly one of the dumbest things i have ever read. but did i give a fuck? no. Jack Hawthorne has me by the throat so i didn’t give a fuck.
it was so weak. and random. and just... weird?? but alas, i am a white man’s whore. it is too late for me. i am too far gone to be saved or to give a fuck. so don’t hold it against me, okay? any and all reasons for Jack and Rose to be together are fine in my book, even if it includes a lil blackmail, stalking and endless lying😌
I cupped her head and rested my forehead against hers. “You are the love of my goddamn life,” I whispered back, my voice raw and hoarse. “Somewhere in between all the pretending, I completely fell for you, and I can’t even think of my life without you in it.”
i am now going to stare blankly out of a window, wondering “when will it be my turn?” bcos i want someone to love me like Jack loves Rose, or they ain’t shit. it’s Jack Hawthorne or nothing, bitch.
“You’re mine, too,” she said. “You’re only mine.”
“We belong to each other, no one else, till we take our last breath.”
“Yes.”
December 6, 2023
1# Reread 5/5 ⭐🥹
1st read 5/5 ⭐❤️🩹
This book is like a warm hug to me.
“I don’t have a home to go back to anymore, Rose.” I stopped but didn’t look at him.
“You’re my home,” he finished.
My eyes filling with tears, I walked away.
And he let me.
So we ended as we’d begun, nothing but two complete strangers.
How should I say thiss!!
I swear to god, I SWEAR TO GOD if I don't get married to a man for a business deal OR AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE I would not let anyone live in peace, in fact, I would not know peace.
Every damn book that has this trope I am in my knees and this book was so good... 😭
This story revolves around jake and rose, rose needs a husband to get a property to build a coffee shop, and jake 'needs' to marry someone to get some 'money' cuz he's a lawyer and must have should a family man and blah blah blah... You know the OG 👀
Their relationship! y'all it was so wholesome and so pure. We got every little little thing. The small fights, them getting annoyed with each other, him being a grump but a marshmallow, the way he would hate the small things she does but miss them when she never does those things. Both of them are caring for each other and yet not showing. LAJSKHAKDJSKAJS
ITS THE CHEMISTRY FOR ME 😭
The slow progression of him falling and her melting 😭.
This is a pure example that she falls first BUT HE FALLS HARDER 🤌
Please give this book a try it's a slow burn that will make you wanting for more. I promise you won't regret reading it. And i was holding a pillow all the time because of how lonely I was feeling. ✋🏽
--------
~WARM SWEET QUOTES ~
“You know the doorman?”
"Yes. I met him the first morning I was leaving for work. We chat a bit in the mornings. Why?” “You’ve only been here for two weeks.”
“So?”
“I didn’t know his name,” I admitted uncomfortably.---😂😂
“I’m right here, Rose,” he whispered, his rough voice washing over me like a caress that fired something up inside me. “I might not be what you wanted or needed, but you got me anyway. I’m right here.”
“Rely on someone. Lean on someone. I feel like I’m messing it up.”
“I want to be that person to you, Rose. I want to be the person you lean on. You and I, we’re the same. We have no one but each other. You’ll lean on me and I’ll do the same. We’ll learn how. We’re in this together.”
“I made it. It’s not takeout.” She stopped with her fork a few inches away from her mouth and lowered it. “You cook?”
“Sometimes, if I have the time.” That earned another beautiful smile, and I decided I would always cook for her on Mondays, pasta or whatever she wanted.--I WANT THIS
“I’ll be right there when you wake up, Rose. I’ll be waiting for you right here, so you come back to me, okay? Make sure you come back to me.”---- I WAS CRYING SO HARD 😭😭
“It was a good day. I really enjoyed cooking with you.”
“You didn’t cook, Rose. You sat on the counter and stole my carrots and roasted potatoes.”
“But you fed them to me yourself.”
“You stole more than what I gave you.”
“I shared my roasted chestnuts with you.” I nodded and my eyes fell to her lips.
"You did.”---❤️🩹😭❤️🩹
“I hope you got what you wanted out of this. I hope it was worth it.”
“I risked losing you to have a shot at you, Rose. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”-😭ouch I died
“I will kiss you every time you start to worry about your health and get lost in your own fears. I will kiss you every morning, every night and whenever I can in between. I will always text you back whenever you text me, even if I’m only one room away from you. But on the days I want to hear your voice, I’ll call you back instead of texting you. I’ll always help you when you ask for it. I’ll help you even when you don’t ask for my help because I’ll always be there. I’ll eat and drink whatever you put in front of me simply because your hands cooked it, baked it, or made it--- ✋🏽🤌 deceased
1st read 5/5 ⭐❤️🩹
This book is like a warm hug to me.
“I don’t have a home to go back to anymore, Rose.” I stopped but didn’t look at him.
“You’re my home,” he finished.
My eyes filling with tears, I walked away.
And he let me.
So we ended as we’d begun, nothing but two complete strangers.
How should I say thiss!!
I swear to god, I SWEAR TO GOD if I don't get married to a man for a business deal OR AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE I would not let anyone live in peace, in fact, I would not know peace.
Every damn book that has this trope I am in my knees and this book was so good... 😭
This story revolves around jake and rose, rose needs a husband to get a property to build a coffee shop, and jake 'needs' to marry someone to get some 'money' cuz he's a lawyer and must have should a family man and blah blah blah... You know the OG 👀
Their relationship! y'all it was so wholesome and so pure. We got every little little thing. The small fights, them getting annoyed with each other, him being a grump but a marshmallow, the way he would hate the small things she does but miss them when she never does those things. Both of them are caring for each other and yet not showing. LAJSKHAKDJSKAJS
ITS THE CHEMISTRY FOR ME 😭
The slow progression of him falling and her melting 😭.
This is a pure example that she falls first BUT HE FALLS HARDER 🤌
“What are you doing on New Year’s? We should do this again.”And his smiles ahhh rose counted them, she counted his smiles and the end of each chapter that was so sweeeeet.
“I’m spending it with my beautiful Rose,” I said, and then I finally walked away.
Please give this book a try it's a slow burn that will make you wanting for more. I promise you won't regret reading it. And i was holding a pillow all the time because of how lonely I was feeling. ✋🏽
--------
~WARM SWEET QUOTES ~
“You know the doorman?”
"Yes. I met him the first morning I was leaving for work. We chat a bit in the mornings. Why?” “You’ve only been here for two weeks.”
“So?”
“I didn’t know his name,” I admitted uncomfortably.---😂😂
“I’m right here, Rose,” he whispered, his rough voice washing over me like a caress that fired something up inside me. “I might not be what you wanted or needed, but you got me anyway. I’m right here.”
“Rely on someone. Lean on someone. I feel like I’m messing it up.”
“I want to be that person to you, Rose. I want to be the person you lean on. You and I, we’re the same. We have no one but each other. You’ll lean on me and I’ll do the same. We’ll learn how. We’re in this together.”
“I made it. It’s not takeout.” She stopped with her fork a few inches away from her mouth and lowered it. “You cook?”
“Sometimes, if I have the time.” That earned another beautiful smile, and I decided I would always cook for her on Mondays, pasta or whatever she wanted.--I WANT THIS
“I’ll be right there when you wake up, Rose. I’ll be waiting for you right here, so you come back to me, okay? Make sure you come back to me.”---- I WAS CRYING SO HARD 😭😭
“It was a good day. I really enjoyed cooking with you.”
“You didn’t cook, Rose. You sat on the counter and stole my carrots and roasted potatoes.”
“But you fed them to me yourself.”
“You stole more than what I gave you.”
“I shared my roasted chestnuts with you.” I nodded and my eyes fell to her lips.
"You did.”---❤️🩹😭❤️🩹
“I hope you got what you wanted out of this. I hope it was worth it.”
“I risked losing you to have a shot at you, Rose. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”-😭ouch I died
“I will kiss you every time you start to worry about your health and get lost in your own fears. I will kiss you every morning, every night and whenever I can in between. I will always text you back whenever you text me, even if I’m only one room away from you. But on the days I want to hear your voice, I’ll call you back instead of texting you. I’ll always help you when you ask for it. I’ll help you even when you don’t ask for my help because I’ll always be there. I’ll eat and drink whatever you put in front of me simply because your hands cooked it, baked it, or made it--- ✋🏽🤌 deceased
January 14, 2021
I kept going for a long time because other people liked this so much. But I'm sorry, I just can't. Two reasons.
First, The author is being coy beyond all reason. At 70% we still have no idea what Jack did that he feels so guilty about. No clue. Bear in mind that it's the sole foundation for the highly negative motivation* that is the only thing holding him back from being all in. They'd have been into happily ever after land within a month if it weren't for this supposed guilt and the reader still has no clue. I'm sorry, but I've lost all respect for the author at this point. I should have expected it if I had noticed she's also the author of The Hardest Fall where we have similar shenanigans. I hope I check my ratings of her backlog the next time I pick up one of her books so I know not to bother.
Second, Jack is a raging coward. At this point, we don't know if he's a stupid coward or not because that'd depend on the details of what the heck happened in the past that I still don't know. But whatever it is that's at the heart of his cowardice, the inescapable fact is that he's manipulating her through information withholding and he just decided that he'll never ever actually tell her. So he's okay with a relationship founded on some unspecified lie that we know, because we're visiting romancelandia, will come out at the worst possible time so that we get some stupid dark moment that is manipulated first by the author and second by the stupid coward I'm supposed to like. I don't like. I loathe.
So yeah, one star and I wish I had stopped when I first got impatient about the author's information withholding. Note to self: "Surely the author will soon reveal what it is holding a main character back" is not an actual argument to keep reading...
* Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term. Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back (or, if that link doesn't work, here's a cache of the original) and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story.
First, The author is being coy beyond all reason. At 70% we still have no idea what Jack did that he feels so guilty about. No clue. Bear in mind that it's the sole foundation for the highly negative motivation* that is the only thing holding him back from being all in. They'd have been into happily ever after land within a month if it weren't for this supposed guilt and the reader still has no clue. I'm sorry, but I've lost all respect for the author at this point. I should have expected it if I had noticed she's also the author of The Hardest Fall where we have similar shenanigans. I hope I check my ratings of her backlog the next time I pick up one of her books so I know not to bother.
Second, Jack is a raging coward. At this point, we don't know if he's a stupid coward or not because that'd depend on the details of what the heck happened in the past that I still don't know. But whatever it is that's at the heart of his cowardice, the inescapable fact is that he's manipulating her through information withholding and he just decided that he'll never ever actually tell her. So he's okay with a relationship founded on some unspecified lie that we know, because we're visiting romancelandia, will come out at the worst possible time so that we get some stupid dark moment that is manipulated first by the author and second by the stupid coward I'm supposed to like. I don't like. I loathe.
So yeah, one star and I wish I had stopped when I first got impatient about the author's information withholding. Note to self: "Surely the author will soon reveal what it is holding a main character back" is not an actual argument to keep reading...
* Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term. Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back (or, if that link doesn't work, here's a cache of the original) and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story.
January 17, 2022
3.75⭐️
This was definitely slow burn. The first third of the book dragged too much. But after that, it was cute af.
The whole situation with the marriage was pretty ridiculous but damn don’t we all wish to just get it all at once?
Jack is your typical brooding, serious and always frowning but sexy af man that will do anything it takes to make his loved one happy. Honesty, I loved his chapters more, they had more character in them I think.
Rose surprised me in a good way. She wasn’t that shy, always a victim type of a girl. She talked when she needed to and made important decisions. And she put people in their places when needed.
Overall, I loved how it’s a dual POV romance book. The ending was cheesy and made me smile like an idiot.
Although, there is barely any plot, the relationship development was worth following.
P.S. Rose’s coffee shop “Around The Corner” is the same one from The Spanish Love Deception. Isn’t that cute?🤧
This was definitely slow burn. The first third of the book dragged too much. But after that, it was cute af.
The whole situation with the marriage was pretty ridiculous but damn don’t we all wish to just get it all at once?
Jack is your typical brooding, serious and always frowning but sexy af man that will do anything it takes to make his loved one happy. Honesty, I loved his chapters more, they had more character in them I think.
Rose surprised me in a good way. She wasn’t that shy, always a victim type of a girl. She talked when she needed to and made important decisions. And she put people in their places when needed.
Overall, I loved how it’s a dual POV romance book. The ending was cheesy and made me smile like an idiot.
Although, there is barely any plot, the relationship development was worth following.
P.S. Rose’s coffee shop “Around The Corner” is the same one from The Spanish Love Deception. Isn’t that cute?🤧
July 16, 2022
she calls him jack literally in every single sentence. we get it, that’s his name
September 18, 2021
this book was not it and the way it’s blowing up on tiktok makes me think some of y’all need therapy
April 9, 2022
“I asked if you’re going to die.” He pulled his hand away from me and dropped it to his side. “Is it something like cancer?” he continued. “Did the doctor say anything like that? Is it not treatable? If that’s the case, let’s sit down and cry together and break things.”
How will I ever move on from this? What makes this book so beautiful is the emphasis on things which are mostly considered trifle. It's those damn little things that will forever have me coming back!
How will I ever move on from this? What makes this book so beautiful is the emphasis on things which are mostly considered trifle. It's those damn little things that will forever have me coming back!
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