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A Convenient Marriage
He's her late brother's best friend. He doesn't believe in love. And now he's her fake husband.
When her brother died, Claire shared guardianship of his daughter with his best friend, Wade. She could handle her one-sided crush on Hollywood’s hotshot producer while he was at arm’s length. But now that toxic relatives want custody of her niece, Claire will do whatever it takes to keep the baby, including faking a marriage with Wade.
Wade excels at keeping complications at bay while navigating the glitz of Hollywood. But playing house with Claire to keep the baby? That's a challenge he didn't see coming. A marriage of convenience, nothing more, he tells himself, determined to keep buried feelings for Claire from surfacing. No strings attached, no false hopes given.
Yet, under one roof, juggling co-parenting and court battles, Claire and Wade's forced proximity ignites old feelings and blurs lines between make-believe and reality. For Claire, acting as Wade's wife is a heart-wrenching reminder of what can't be. For Wade, the act becomes a mirror reflecting what might be possible—if only he dares to believe. As the stakes soar, can Wade confront his fear of commitments to turn their facade into forever, or will his and Claire's makeshift domestic bliss crumble under the weight of his doubts?
A Convenient Marriage is Book 5 in the standalone series. Fall in love with The Billionaires’ Reunion Christian Romance series while catching up with the big Stone Family as they reunite in their scenic small-town. There’s several seasons of love and adventure in this spin off series following Eric Stone’s siblings from The CEO’s companion in the caregiver series. With each family member taking a turn to coordinate a family gathering, there’s plenty of laughter, tears and Happily Ever Afters. (You don’t need to have read The Caregiver series first to enjoy this series.)
When her brother died, Claire shared guardianship of his daughter with his best friend, Wade. She could handle her one-sided crush on Hollywood’s hotshot producer while he was at arm’s length. But now that toxic relatives want custody of her niece, Claire will do whatever it takes to keep the baby, including faking a marriage with Wade.
Wade excels at keeping complications at bay while navigating the glitz of Hollywood. But playing house with Claire to keep the baby? That's a challenge he didn't see coming. A marriage of convenience, nothing more, he tells himself, determined to keep buried feelings for Claire from surfacing. No strings attached, no false hopes given.
Yet, under one roof, juggling co-parenting and court battles, Claire and Wade's forced proximity ignites old feelings and blurs lines between make-believe and reality. For Claire, acting as Wade's wife is a heart-wrenching reminder of what can't be. For Wade, the act becomes a mirror reflecting what might be possible—if only he dares to believe. As the stakes soar, can Wade confront his fear of commitments to turn their facade into forever, or will his and Claire's makeshift domestic bliss crumble under the weight of his doubts?
A Convenient Marriage is Book 5 in the standalone series. Fall in love with The Billionaires’ Reunion Christian Romance series while catching up with the big Stone Family as they reunite in their scenic small-town. There’s several seasons of love and adventure in this spin off series following Eric Stone’s siblings from The CEO’s companion in the caregiver series. With each family member taking a turn to coordinate a family gathering, there’s plenty of laughter, tears and Happily Ever Afters. (You don’t need to have read The Caregiver series first to enjoy this series.)
431 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 23, 2025
101 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
March 18, 2025
Enjoyable read
My first Rose Fresquez book, and I really enjoyed it. Marriage of convenience is my favorite trope, and this one didn't disappoint. I loved watching the relationship develop between Wade and Claire, and I also loved seeing Wade open his heart to the little baby they both became guardians of. A sweet Christian romance.
My first Rose Fresquez book, and I really enjoyed it. Marriage of convenience is my favorite trope, and this one didn't disappoint. I loved watching the relationship develop between Wade and Claire, and I also loved seeing Wade open his heart to the little baby they both became guardians of. A sweet Christian romance.
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July 5, 2025
BOOK REVIEW & Book Blurb:
I was invited to be part of @rosefresquez newest ARC BOOK LAUNCH for A Convenient Marriage.
Y’all, this book was AMAZING!! I don’t usually say that unless I truly mean it and I really do. Such a powerful and beautiful book by Rose. I’ve read a few books by her in the past, including book one in the Billionaires series and this by far is my favorite Billionaire books.
Short Blurb:
He’s her late brother’s best friend. He doesn’t believe in love. And now he’s her fake husband.
Some of my tropes from this book:
Brothers best friend
marriage of convenience
Fake dating
Instant family
No cursing in Rose’s
I was invited to be part of @rosefresquez newest ARC BOOK LAUNCH for A Convenient Marriage.
Y’all, this book was AMAZING!! I don’t usually say that unless I truly mean it and I really do. Such a powerful and beautiful book by Rose. I’ve read a few books by her in the past, including book one in the Billionaires series and this by far is my favorite Billionaire books.
Short Blurb:
He’s her late brother’s best friend. He doesn’t believe in love. And now he’s her fake husband.
Some of my tropes from this book:
Brothers best friend
marriage of convenience
Fake dating
Instant family
No cursing in Rose’s
February 19, 2025
This is the first book that I have read by this author and now I am excited to read more! I love marriage of convenience stories and this was an excellent one. It had a great faith message, characters who were dealing with grief, childhood trauma for the hero of the story, and great tension between the main characters!
That romantic tension had been simmering for many years. Wade was the best friend of Claire’s older brother, who recently passed away. There was a bit of an age gap, which played into some of the distance that Wade had tried to keep between them. Yet, they were also friends who grew up together. I loved learning about their background as friends and how they had both impacted each other so much throughout the years.
Wade’s traumatic childhood definitely created some emotional issues for him that impacted the way he perceived relationships, himself, and also led to trouble within the marriage. I loved the connection between Claire and Wade. I really felt for Claire as she gave her whole heart to Wade yet had to wait for him to work through so many emotional setbacks. I am intrigued about the next story in the series after the hint of trouble that was revealed at the end of this novel.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
That romantic tension had been simmering for many years. Wade was the best friend of Claire’s older brother, who recently passed away. There was a bit of an age gap, which played into some of the distance that Wade had tried to keep between them. Yet, they were also friends who grew up together. I loved learning about their background as friends and how they had both impacted each other so much throughout the years.
Wade’s traumatic childhood definitely created some emotional issues for him that impacted the way he perceived relationships, himself, and also led to trouble within the marriage. I loved the connection between Claire and Wade. I really felt for Claire as she gave her whole heart to Wade yet had to wait for him to work through so many emotional setbacks. I am intrigued about the next story in the series after the hint of trouble that was revealed at the end of this novel.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
February 23, 2025
I want to start by saying I received an ARC of this book. It is a Christian romance book. This is the 5th book in this series but can be read as a standalone. The main characters are Wade and Claire. Claire’s brother died now her and her brother’s best friend Wade have shared custody of her brother’s baby. Troubles arise so now Wade and Claire are in a marriage of convenience. Wade doesn’t believe in love. Can he find love with Claire through the fake marriage? Can they keep the baby from being taken from them by other family members? I loved watching Wade and Claire grow together. Seeing them raise the baby together. They made the perfect family. I was rooting for Wade and Claire the whole time. Claire loved Wade but he struggled to love her back as he had commitment issues. This book goes to so no matter how hard times get with God all things are possible and you can overcome anything. I will be honest I normally don’t read billionaire or Hollywood romance books but this one worked. I am so thankful I was able to read this book. If you like brother’s best friend, marriage of convenience, and instant family then I recommend this book. Overall, this book was amazing. Now I need to read the other books in this series.
January 31, 2025
This is my voluntary review of a copy I was given.
This sweet romance centers on a fake marriage between long-time friends. It's an emotional ride.
Claire has always loved Wade, but he never wanted to love anyone. To him, love means hurt and loss. His traumatic past plays heavily in their union, and growing past his fears brings the emotional dynamics to the story.
I love that the characters are well supported by family and close friends in the community.
This sweet romance centers on a fake marriage between long-time friends. It's an emotional ride.
Claire has always loved Wade, but he never wanted to love anyone. To him, love means hurt and loss. His traumatic past plays heavily in their union, and growing past his fears brings the emotional dynamics to the story.
I love that the characters are well supported by family and close friends in the community.
May 27, 2025
This was a deeply touching Marriage of Convenience Romance!
I have to say that MOC is one of my favorite tropes and this one was beautifully done!
Claire is barely dealing with her own grief after her brother’s passing when she’s suddenly thrown into motherhood when being declared guardian of her seven month old niece Bella, along with Wade, his brother’s best friend. Claire has had a long-time crush on Wade since childhood, but Wade has been nothing more to her than a close friend. Also, he has turned into a wealthy and popular movie producer and actor with a career that keeps him away from their small town. But when her brother’s in-laws, who barely know their granddaughter, want to fight for Bella’s custody, the best solution is for them to be married to have more chances for the court to give them full custody of Bella. So after they get married, their life is uphended to one of a small family. For Claire, it’s her dream come true. For Wade, it may be what he always wanted but never considered himself worthy of. The close proximity brings out growing feelings for both, but Wade, being an adopted child, is full of fears of not being able to measure up as a father. Will he let his fears rule his future, or can he embrace the blessing God has given him by trusting He’ll help him be the man they need?
This love story was beautiful and touched me deeply. The characters, both Claire and Wade, are so lovable and relatable. I loved Claire’s steadfast and caring personality, and the way she loved Wade unconditionally warmed my heart to the core. Wade melted my heart too! He has a huge heart and the way he treated Claire and Bella, as if they were precious treasures, was a sight to behold. He was so protective of them, and his way of taking care of them was full of small thoughtful details that charmed me. It was so easy to see how Claire was smitten with him since so long ago. The interactions of both of them with the baby are so sweet. The romance between Claire and Wade was a mix of slow burn -on Wade’s part- and a deep yearning. There was lots of chemistry between them, and there are quite a few romantic scenes -from clean and very chaste to more passionate but always fade to black- along the story. I thought it was a very romantic story.
There are also deep themes here and there: the loss of family members, children neglect, the slow aging and illness of a parent, etc. What Wade suffered through his childhood tugged and my heart and made me understand him better, particularly his fears and insecurities of failing as a husband and parent. There is character growth for both of them that is thought provoking and inspiring. They both want to trust the Lord with their future, but at times it’s hard to let the fears of not measuring up go away, and I felt related to that.
Wade’s family dinamics made the book even more engaging. Wade’s adoptive parents are amazing, and I loved the bond he shared with them and with his adopted siblings: so many of them! The Stone family is amazing, fun, sensitive and they have each other backs. I can’t wait to read more books from this series and get to know the journey to HEA for most of them!
The ending was (sigh!) so beautiful it brought some tears to my eyes! So touching!
I highly recommend this contemporary romance! It will tug at your heart and make you swoon at the same time!
I received a complementary copy from the author, but wasn’t required to post a positive review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
I have to say that MOC is one of my favorite tropes and this one was beautifully done!
Claire is barely dealing with her own grief after her brother’s passing when she’s suddenly thrown into motherhood when being declared guardian of her seven month old niece Bella, along with Wade, his brother’s best friend. Claire has had a long-time crush on Wade since childhood, but Wade has been nothing more to her than a close friend. Also, he has turned into a wealthy and popular movie producer and actor with a career that keeps him away from their small town. But when her brother’s in-laws, who barely know their granddaughter, want to fight for Bella’s custody, the best solution is for them to be married to have more chances for the court to give them full custody of Bella. So after they get married, their life is uphended to one of a small family. For Claire, it’s her dream come true. For Wade, it may be what he always wanted but never considered himself worthy of. The close proximity brings out growing feelings for both, but Wade, being an adopted child, is full of fears of not being able to measure up as a father. Will he let his fears rule his future, or can he embrace the blessing God has given him by trusting He’ll help him be the man they need?
This love story was beautiful and touched me deeply. The characters, both Claire and Wade, are so lovable and relatable. I loved Claire’s steadfast and caring personality, and the way she loved Wade unconditionally warmed my heart to the core. Wade melted my heart too! He has a huge heart and the way he treated Claire and Bella, as if they were precious treasures, was a sight to behold. He was so protective of them, and his way of taking care of them was full of small thoughtful details that charmed me. It was so easy to see how Claire was smitten with him since so long ago. The interactions of both of them with the baby are so sweet. The romance between Claire and Wade was a mix of slow burn -on Wade’s part- and a deep yearning. There was lots of chemistry between them, and there are quite a few romantic scenes -from clean and very chaste to more passionate but always fade to black- along the story. I thought it was a very romantic story.
There are also deep themes here and there: the loss of family members, children neglect, the slow aging and illness of a parent, etc. What Wade suffered through his childhood tugged and my heart and made me understand him better, particularly his fears and insecurities of failing as a husband and parent. There is character growth for both of them that is thought provoking and inspiring. They both want to trust the Lord with their future, but at times it’s hard to let the fears of not measuring up go away, and I felt related to that.
Wade’s family dinamics made the book even more engaging. Wade’s adoptive parents are amazing, and I loved the bond he shared with them and with his adopted siblings: so many of them! The Stone family is amazing, fun, sensitive and they have each other backs. I can’t wait to read more books from this series and get to know the journey to HEA for most of them!
The ending was (sigh!) so beautiful it brought some tears to my eyes! So touching!
I highly recommend this contemporary romance! It will tug at your heart and make you swoon at the same time!
I received a complementary copy from the author, but wasn’t required to post a positive review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
February 14, 2025
Rose has written a lovely romance filled with so many tropes: marriage of convenience, friends to more, best friend's brother, forced proximity, and found family! There’s so much depth in this story, especially the backstory of Wade and how his past shaped who he is today. The bond between him and Claire is sweet and innocent, and I loved how they shared so much history without considering what the future would bring...especially ending up in a marriage of convenience!
After Claire’s brother Albert passes away, she shares guardianship of his daughter Bella with his best friend, Wade. Wade and Claire have always been close, with Claire often being the third wheel when Wade and her brother hung out. But this new arrangement will push their friendship in unexpected ways. What Wade thought would just be shared guardianship turns into a marriage of convenience to prevent Bella from being taken by her grandparents. Soon, what started as pretend begins to feel more real. They’ve both always had feelings for each other, but Wade has always seen Claire as Albert’s sister. Can he see her as more? Claire struggles with her growing feelings, especially watching Wade care for Bella. Wade, hurt by his past, is afraid of love and commitment, making it hard for Claire to know where she stands with him. And even though he’s starting to feel more for Claire, he isn’t ready to admit that what he feels is love, since that would mean long-term. Can he REALLY be a husband to Claire and a father to Bella?
This is a beautiful story full of love, friendship, and growth as they figure out their new roles as parents and a couple. Neither of them wants to push the other too far, but they both want more than just a convenient arrangement. The romance is closed-door (fade to black between a married couple) and is packed full of chemistry and heartfelt moments.
I’m giving this story 4.5 stars, which I’ll round up to 5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy, and this review is my honest opinion.
After Claire’s brother Albert passes away, she shares guardianship of his daughter Bella with his best friend, Wade. Wade and Claire have always been close, with Claire often being the third wheel when Wade and her brother hung out. But this new arrangement will push their friendship in unexpected ways. What Wade thought would just be shared guardianship turns into a marriage of convenience to prevent Bella from being taken by her grandparents. Soon, what started as pretend begins to feel more real. They’ve both always had feelings for each other, but Wade has always seen Claire as Albert’s sister. Can he see her as more? Claire struggles with her growing feelings, especially watching Wade care for Bella. Wade, hurt by his past, is afraid of love and commitment, making it hard for Claire to know where she stands with him. And even though he’s starting to feel more for Claire, he isn’t ready to admit that what he feels is love, since that would mean long-term. Can he REALLY be a husband to Claire and a father to Bella?
This is a beautiful story full of love, friendship, and growth as they figure out their new roles as parents and a couple. Neither of them wants to push the other too far, but they both want more than just a convenient arrangement. The romance is closed-door (fade to black between a married couple) and is packed full of chemistry and heartfelt moments.
I’m giving this story 4.5 stars, which I’ll round up to 5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy, and this review is my honest opinion.
February 19, 2025
This book was far more than a "billionaire romance". Claire (FMC) and Wade (MMC) both have deep hurts to overcome before truly accepting the love that was within their marriage all along.
Quick highlights:
NO SPICE - this book is fade-to-black with intimacy being implied between married characters
NO SWEARS - no swears or "bible swears"
Christian faith based story lens with bible verses and prayers sprinkled throughout
Third act drama (not really a breakup.... read it and you will know what I mean)
HEA and all the feels guaranteed
This book doesn't shy away from so many struggles we find in real life. Claire's brother, Albert, who was also Wade's best friend suddenly passes away and leaves both their lives painted with grief. Claire now has to balance being a caregiver to her aging father, grieve the loss of her brother, while raising her niece Bella and fighting for custody of her. My heart broke instantly for Claire, watching her do her absolute best to maintain the burden placed on her. Even her struggles with the guilt of "not going to church" or "trusting God like she should" was relatable.
Wade has a traumatic past that unveils itself in bits and pieces throughout the story. Everything he does for Claire and Bella (as well as everything he "doesn't do") makes sense as these parts of his story are revealed. It was gut wrenching watching his trauma get the best of him at times, ESPECIALLY after watching just how much he cares for Claire and Bella. (Ummmm hello "he takes care of her" bathtub scene! I see you ) The grand gesture at the end was truly incredible and emotional.
The epilogue leaves you on a cliffhanger for the next book in the series Truly a phenomenal story, I savored every page!!
Quick highlights:
NO SPICE - this book is fade-to-black with intimacy being implied between married characters
NO SWEARS - no swears or "bible swears"
Christian faith based story lens with bible verses and prayers sprinkled throughout
Third act drama (not really a breakup.... read it and you will know what I mean)
HEA and all the feels guaranteed
This book doesn't shy away from so many struggles we find in real life. Claire's brother, Albert, who was also Wade's best friend suddenly passes away and leaves both their lives painted with grief. Claire now has to balance being a caregiver to her aging father, grieve the loss of her brother, while raising her niece Bella and fighting for custody of her. My heart broke instantly for Claire, watching her do her absolute best to maintain the burden placed on her. Even her struggles with the guilt of "not going to church" or "trusting God like she should" was relatable.
Wade has a traumatic past that unveils itself in bits and pieces throughout the story. Everything he does for Claire and Bella (as well as everything he "doesn't do") makes sense as these parts of his story are revealed. It was gut wrenching watching his trauma get the best of him at times, ESPECIALLY after watching just how much he cares for Claire and Bella. (Ummmm hello "he takes care of her" bathtub scene! I see you ) The grand gesture at the end was truly incredible and emotional.
The epilogue leaves you on a cliffhanger for the next book in the series Truly a phenomenal story, I savored every page!!
February 18, 2025
My all-time favorite trope is marriage of convenience, so I’m always excited to read a modern take on my favorite trope. Rose Fresquez’s latest addition to her The Billionaire’s Reunion series, A Convenient Marriage, is a modern marriage of convenience story that is full of faith, friends, family, and romance.
The story focuses on Claire, a jewelry designer, and Wade, a hot shot Hollywood actor and director. When Claire’s brother and Wade’s best friend unexpectedly dies, Claire and Wade find themselves appointed to be his baby daughter, Bella’s, guardians. Claire isn’t sure what to think of the man she has secretly loved for years. Wade isn’t sure how Bella and Claire would fit into his Hollywood lifestyle. As Claire and Wade reconnected after years apart, Bella’s estranged grandparents sue for custody. Wade and Claire decide to get married to keep Bella from being taken from them. The story that follows is so good.
Things to love:
-marriage of convenience
-brother’s best friend
-baby guardians
-adoption rep
-celebrity MMC
-strong, hardworking FMC
-Christian romance
-flashbacks
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. I loved how the story incorporated a faith element, which blended so seamlessly into the story. The inner dialogue of both Wade and Claire were so well done and brought so much heart to the story.
I adored Claire and Wade together. Their romance was so sweet. If you enjoy modern marriage of convenience stories, this book should definitely be on your radar.
The story focuses on Claire, a jewelry designer, and Wade, a hot shot Hollywood actor and director. When Claire’s brother and Wade’s best friend unexpectedly dies, Claire and Wade find themselves appointed to be his baby daughter, Bella’s, guardians. Claire isn’t sure what to think of the man she has secretly loved for years. Wade isn’t sure how Bella and Claire would fit into his Hollywood lifestyle. As Claire and Wade reconnected after years apart, Bella’s estranged grandparents sue for custody. Wade and Claire decide to get married to keep Bella from being taken from them. The story that follows is so good.
Things to love:
-marriage of convenience
-brother’s best friend
-baby guardians
-adoption rep
-celebrity MMC
-strong, hardworking FMC
-Christian romance
-flashbacks
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. I loved how the story incorporated a faith element, which blended so seamlessly into the story. The inner dialogue of both Wade and Claire were so well done and brought so much heart to the story.
I adored Claire and Wade together. Their romance was so sweet. If you enjoy modern marriage of convenience stories, this book should definitely be on your radar.
March 3, 2025
✨ARC Review✨
Rating: 5/5⭐️
Recommended Age: 14+
Series: The Billionaire Reunion Series #5
Wade and Claire’s story is so special. It is so much more than a marriage of convenience romance. This is a story about dealing with past trauma and a story about family. I loved the close knit circle of the Stones.
Claire has loved Wade for years, and now she finally has a chance with him! Umm, yes! I was so excited for this one, and though it went in a direction I didn’t quite expect, it was still so good!
The only thing I would have wanted in this book are timelines. The characters have a history, and I would have liked to see specific scenes play out in great detail.
The ending…was sooo good. I liked the way Rose Fresquez showed the sincerity of Wade and Claire. It felt genuine and remained true to who they were as a person.
You’ll find:
Marriage of convenience
Famous MMC
She fell first, he fell harder
Age Gap
Brother’s Best Friend
Newly Appointed Guardians
He calls her Cupcake
Honeymoon
Only one bed
He takes care of her…
POV: Dual POV, third person, past tense
Door: Closed door 🚪
Spice level according to Closed Door Romance: Level 2
Swearing chart according to Closed Door Romance: None
Trigger Warnings: death (off page), mention of neglect
**Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.**
Rating: 5/5⭐️
Recommended Age: 14+
Series: The Billionaire Reunion Series #5
Wade and Claire’s story is so special. It is so much more than a marriage of convenience romance. This is a story about dealing with past trauma and a story about family. I loved the close knit circle of the Stones.
Claire has loved Wade for years, and now she finally has a chance with him! Umm, yes! I was so excited for this one, and though it went in a direction I didn’t quite expect, it was still so good!
The only thing I would have wanted in this book are timelines. The characters have a history, and I would have liked to see specific scenes play out in great detail.
The ending…was sooo good. I liked the way Rose Fresquez showed the sincerity of Wade and Claire. It felt genuine and remained true to who they were as a person.
You’ll find:
Marriage of convenience
Famous MMC
She fell first, he fell harder
Age Gap
Brother’s Best Friend
Newly Appointed Guardians
He calls her Cupcake
Honeymoon
Only one bed
He takes care of her…
POV: Dual POV, third person, past tense
Door: Closed door 🚪
Spice level according to Closed Door Romance: Level 2
Swearing chart according to Closed Door Romance: None
Trigger Warnings: death (off page), mention of neglect
**Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.**
February 12, 2025
Emotional Story of Fear, Doubt and Hope...
I’m usually not a fan of a fake marriage story but this one is different… for me it’s very different. It plays hard upon the emotions, especially considering Wade’s traumatic past (main Male character). The book is written so that you can ‘feel’ the pain, the hesitation, the wariness.
And then there’s Claire. She has loved Wade forever, well it seems that way to her. But love is not in Wade’s radar. Not with Clair, not with anyone. His painful past had him in denial when it comes to love, maybe even some deeply buried feelings for Clair.
But this Hollywood hotshot wouldn’t allow anything to get in his way when it involved his deceased best friend, Clair’s brother. He shares guardianship of his friend’s daughter with Clair. But to Wade, that means being there financially. He’s convinced he isn’t cut out to be a parent. But things have a way of changing minds, especially when court battles have to be fought with a rather pernicious set of relatives wanting custody.
Without giving spoilers, just know this is a clean, sweet book that can heart wrenching as the emotion is so very real. It makes me think of a verse I’ve read in the world’s best selling book that says: ‘What G_d has joined together, let no man put asunder’. Yep, you can guess who wins, but the journey there won’t be easy…. but well worth it.
I’m usually not a fan of a fake marriage story but this one is different… for me it’s very different. It plays hard upon the emotions, especially considering Wade’s traumatic past (main Male character). The book is written so that you can ‘feel’ the pain, the hesitation, the wariness.
And then there’s Claire. She has loved Wade forever, well it seems that way to her. But love is not in Wade’s radar. Not with Clair, not with anyone. His painful past had him in denial when it comes to love, maybe even some deeply buried feelings for Clair.
But this Hollywood hotshot wouldn’t allow anything to get in his way when it involved his deceased best friend, Clair’s brother. He shares guardianship of his friend’s daughter with Clair. But to Wade, that means being there financially. He’s convinced he isn’t cut out to be a parent. But things have a way of changing minds, especially when court battles have to be fought with a rather pernicious set of relatives wanting custody.
Without giving spoilers, just know this is a clean, sweet book that can heart wrenching as the emotion is so very real. It makes me think of a verse I’ve read in the world’s best selling book that says: ‘What G_d has joined together, let no man put asunder’. Yep, you can guess who wins, but the journey there won’t be easy…. but well worth it.
March 15, 2025
Normally I am not a fan of the brothers’ best friend troupe, but there is something about this story that endeared me from the start, and quickly I found myself falling in love with Wade, Claire, and their newfound family. It’s hard not to be sympathetic to a sibling and best friend that has lost someone so close to them while also watching them step up to co-parent a precious baby and enter into a fake marriage just to provide the little girl with a stable environment.
When it comes to love the only people these two are fooling are themselves. It’s clear that Wade and Claire have quite the connection with one another, but it took a tragedy of epic proportions to bring these two together.
While A Convenient Marriage is a slow burn, it was also quite satisfying with flawed characters and mostly relatable situations, and the ending is so incredibly sweet!! What an amazing testament to Wade and Claire’s relationship and resilience throughout the years…and talk about romantic! Wowza! This was on another level! Rose Fresquez is the queen when it comes to writing grand gestures that hit your heart.
Needless to say, I enjoyed this novel so much more than I had originally anticipated. There is so much heart and love that emanates from these pages that I cannot rave about enough.
When it comes to love the only people these two are fooling are themselves. It’s clear that Wade and Claire have quite the connection with one another, but it took a tragedy of epic proportions to bring these two together.
While A Convenient Marriage is a slow burn, it was also quite satisfying with flawed characters and mostly relatable situations, and the ending is so incredibly sweet!! What an amazing testament to Wade and Claire’s relationship and resilience throughout the years…and talk about romantic! Wowza! This was on another level! Rose Fresquez is the queen when it comes to writing grand gestures that hit your heart.
Needless to say, I enjoyed this novel so much more than I had originally anticipated. There is so much heart and love that emanates from these pages that I cannot rave about enough.
February 5, 2025
Loved Wade and Claire's story!! Claire has had a crush on Wade as long as she's known him, though he was her brother's best friend. Wade had a thing for Claire, too, though he's always felt he's not good enough for her. When Claire's brother dies, Claire continues to raise his daughter, who she'd helped him with since she was born. When Claire and Wade find out that Albert had a will, and named Claire and Wade as Bella's guardians, Wade is shaken. When they then find out that Bella's grandparents want to get custody, Wade knows he can't let that happen. So, he proposes a marriage of convenience. Claire goes along with the marriage because of her love for both Wade and Bella. Can they make it a true marriage, or will Wade let his fear of commitment ruin the happiness they might find? I love how Wade depends on God, though he still has to learn that God can be trusted with everything!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.
February 13, 2025
I'm a sucker for marriage of convenience stories so I jumped at the chance to read A Convenient Marriage. This was my first ever Rose Fresquez book and I will say it did not disappoint at all. I was a bit concerned about jumping into a series several books in having not read any of the others as I'm a stickler for reading in order but I can honestly say I didn't feel lost at all. I can definitely see where other storylines converged from other books but nothing that was too confusing. It can truly be read as a standalone. Plus now I'm interested and want to read more of the series!
Man I loved the chemistry between Wade and Claire so much. I also loved that even though this was just an "arrangement" as Wade referred to it, they still had an actual wedding to sell the look of a real marriage since Wade was a celebrity and so well known. Usually marriage of convenience stories just have them running off to the courthouse just to make it legal. I loved getting to see Wade be gobsmacked by Claire's beauty! I wanted to shake Wade when his doubts came in to sabotage him despite Claire's reassurances but with his history, it did make sense as to why he felt that way. But the part with the movie he made at the end, so stinking adorable! I would definitely recommend this book and feel like you could start here if you're not ready to start the series from the beginning yet.
Man I loved the chemistry between Wade and Claire so much. I also loved that even though this was just an "arrangement" as Wade referred to it, they still had an actual wedding to sell the look of a real marriage since Wade was a celebrity and so well known. Usually marriage of convenience stories just have them running off to the courthouse just to make it legal. I loved getting to see Wade be gobsmacked by Claire's beauty! I wanted to shake Wade when his doubts came in to sabotage him despite Claire's reassurances but with his history, it did make sense as to why he felt that way. But the part with the movie he made at the end, so stinking adorable! I would definitely recommend this book and feel like you could start here if you're not ready to start the series from the beginning yet.
February 15, 2025
I was so excited to read another book in this series about the Stone family. Each one of the adopted siblings have a past before they were adopted that sometimes haunts them. Wade's memories has him putting up a wall that won't allow him to even think about marriage. He's also dealing with the death of his best friend Albert. So when Wade gets a call from Albert's lawyer and discovers his friend gave him joint custody of his little daughter he has some decisions to make. Wade is supposed to share custody with Albert's beautiful sister Claire. He needs to do his part from a distance because he knows the secret feelings he has towards Claire.
Claire and Wade have a history since he was always around with her brother Albert. She has had a crush on him for years and every time she thought he was drawing closer to her, he disappointed her and broke her heart. Having joint custody hasn't really changed their relationship since he still keeps busy with his acting and directing movies.
When the baby's maternal grandparents take them to court to try to get custody Wade knows he needs to do something to protect the little girl. Knowing that Albert believed there was something between him and Claire, he takes the advice to have a fake marriage with her. As Wade and Claire try to prove to the world and the court that their relationship is real will they choose to go from fake to a real marriage? Can Wade finally overcome his past to make a commitment to Claire?
I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest unbiased review.
Claire and Wade have a history since he was always around with her brother Albert. She has had a crush on him for years and every time she thought he was drawing closer to her, he disappointed her and broke her heart. Having joint custody hasn't really changed their relationship since he still keeps busy with his acting and directing movies.
When the baby's maternal grandparents take them to court to try to get custody Wade knows he needs to do something to protect the little girl. Knowing that Albert believed there was something between him and Claire, he takes the advice to have a fake marriage with her. As Wade and Claire try to prove to the world and the court that their relationship is real will they choose to go from fake to a real marriage? Can Wade finally overcome his past to make a commitment to Claire?
I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest unbiased review.
February 28, 2025
I didn't know what kind of book I was going to get when I signed up for this ARC read, other than it was a "clean romance". It was likely just my own state of mind, but it took a few chapters before I really got into the story. I liked that not everything about the characters was dumped out in the first chapters, it provided for more character development during the story.
A Convenient Marriage is part of a series, and there were hints of those other stories, but this was totally fine as a standalone read.
I'm not a fan of the love-at-first-sight trope, even though I myself was pretty smitten with my husband when we first met 🥰 This book, thankfully, was not one of those. The main characters had known each other for years, Claire's late brother having been Wades's best friend.
Loyalty to and love for family and friends is a foundational part of the plot.
This is a fairly light read. There are challenges to be overcome, together as a couple as well as individual struggles, but they aren't traumatic enough to cause heartbreak to the reader, imo. And there are plenty of sweet and swoony moments and quotes. Go see author @rosefresquez post to get a taste of those! 😍
Read if you like these tropes:
💍 Marriage of convenience
💫 Brothers best friend
💍 Fake dating
❤️ Small-town
💞 Billionaire
💫 Celebrity
💕 Inspirational
💜 Instant Family
💙 One Bed
💍 My Wife
I received a free copy in advance in exchange for my honest review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Convenient Marriage is part of a series, and there were hints of those other stories, but this was totally fine as a standalone read.
I'm not a fan of the love-at-first-sight trope, even though I myself was pretty smitten with my husband when we first met 🥰 This book, thankfully, was not one of those. The main characters had known each other for years, Claire's late brother having been Wades's best friend.
Loyalty to and love for family and friends is a foundational part of the plot.
This is a fairly light read. There are challenges to be overcome, together as a couple as well as individual struggles, but they aren't traumatic enough to cause heartbreak to the reader, imo. And there are plenty of sweet and swoony moments and quotes. Go see author @rosefresquez post to get a taste of those! 😍
Read if you like these tropes:
💍 Marriage of convenience
💫 Brothers best friend
💍 Fake dating
❤️ Small-town
💞 Billionaire
💫 Celebrity
💕 Inspirational
💜 Instant Family
💙 One Bed
💍 My Wife
I received a free copy in advance in exchange for my honest review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 5, 2025
This book is interconnected with other books in multiple series through the characters that overlap. Each book focuses on one couple and has a HEA for that couple but the storyline continues in the background for others.
They have known each other for years. Her older brother's best friend and her childhood crush hasn't been around much. However when her brother dies, he lists them both as co heir to everything he holds dear, including guardians of his infant daughter. Unfortunately, his former in laws want custody. Will a convenient marriage be enough to keep the baby with the only family she's ever known? How will they overcome the obstacles of the past?
I wish I had found this author sooner so I could have read the books in order. Just added several more books to my wish list.
I received a copy of this book from the author. Review voluntarily given.
They have known each other for years. Her older brother's best friend and her childhood crush hasn't been around much. However when her brother dies, he lists them both as co heir to everything he holds dear, including guardians of his infant daughter. Unfortunately, his former in laws want custody. Will a convenient marriage be enough to keep the baby with the only family she's ever known? How will they overcome the obstacles of the past?
I wish I had found this author sooner so I could have read the books in order. Just added several more books to my wish list.
I received a copy of this book from the author. Review voluntarily given.
February 22, 2025
Wade and Claire are thrown together when they are both named as co-guardians to Bella, Claire’s niece. To win in a custody battle, they agree to marry to give Bella a stable family situation.
Soon, their “fake” marriage becomes real as they both come to terms with their true feelings. One of my favourite scenes was the one where Wade took care of her when she was ill. It was a simple decision to him as by then, Claire is his priority.
Unfortunately, Wade has been traumatised as a child and he brings that trauma into his role as a “parent”. That leads to heartbreak eventually for our new couple who is still navigating their extremely new relationship.
The grand gesture at the end though was an award-winning one for sure, which is perfectly apt for our Hollywood celebrity hero.
Soon, their “fake” marriage becomes real as they both come to terms with their true feelings. One of my favourite scenes was the one where Wade took care of her when she was ill. It was a simple decision to him as by then, Claire is his priority.
Unfortunately, Wade has been traumatised as a child and he brings that trauma into his role as a “parent”. That leads to heartbreak eventually for our new couple who is still navigating their extremely new relationship.
The grand gesture at the end though was an award-winning one for sure, which is perfectly apt for our Hollywood celebrity hero.
February 8, 2025
Is true love possible?
A story filled with laughter, friends, family, loss, grief, heartbreak, heartaches, trials, discovery, and true love. Wade is a great guy with life working for him, but underneath that smooth facade is a heart filled with doubt and fear of failing those he loves. He has PTSD-like issues from his rough childhood that brings hardships into his marriage. Claire has loved him for years and, when she and little Bella need him, Wade steps up and makes things happen, but he can’t give his heart fully. Journey with Wade and Claire as they discover what love, marriage, and parenting is really like, with God’s help.
I received a complimentary copy and these are my voluntary and honest opinions. I was not required to leave a positive review.
A story filled with laughter, friends, family, loss, grief, heartbreak, heartaches, trials, discovery, and true love. Wade is a great guy with life working for him, but underneath that smooth facade is a heart filled with doubt and fear of failing those he loves. He has PTSD-like issues from his rough childhood that brings hardships into his marriage. Claire has loved him for years and, when she and little Bella need him, Wade steps up and makes things happen, but he can’t give his heart fully. Journey with Wade and Claire as they discover what love, marriage, and parenting is really like, with God’s help.
I received a complimentary copy and these are my voluntary and honest opinions. I was not required to leave a positive review.
March 8, 2025
A Convenient Marriage
Claire and Wade have a wonderful story. When Claire loses her brother, she becomes the guardian of her orphaned neice while also caring for her ailing father. She is struggling to keep her head above water. Meanwhile she gets notification that the infant’s estranged grandparents are seeking guardianship of the child. Wade has thrown himself into his work in Hollywood since his best friend’s death. A call from an attorney changes the trajectory of his life in a moment. His friend has designated him along with his friend’s sister to be guardians of an infant. Never intending to marry, he finds himself in a marriage of convenience and falling for his wife. How can he trust himself to be a father with his past?
Claire and Wade have a wonderful story. When Claire loses her brother, she becomes the guardian of her orphaned neice while also caring for her ailing father. She is struggling to keep her head above water. Meanwhile she gets notification that the infant’s estranged grandparents are seeking guardianship of the child. Wade has thrown himself into his work in Hollywood since his best friend’s death. A call from an attorney changes the trajectory of his life in a moment. His friend has designated him along with his friend’s sister to be guardians of an infant. Never intending to marry, he finds himself in a marriage of convenience and falling for his wife. How can he trust himself to be a father with his past?
March 29, 2025
Enjoyed this story about love, marriage, and protecting kids. What meant the most to me was the revelation of the protagonist Wade’s background as a foster child and how his experiences affected him even now as an adult, making it hard for him to let his guard down and to trust. I can relate to those same struggles even though mine are not from being a foster child but from other expert in my past. This helped me better relate to Wade because externally his life seemed to be all roses and everything going well but he still carried some pain from his past. This made him more human. I also enjoyed the other protagonist Claire as the one who just did what was required ata sacrifice to herself. God sent them what they needed, but they still had to recognize and act on it.
May 12, 2025
Wade + Claire
This is my first book by this Author and it is a marriage of convenience. Claire’s brother passes away and leaves her and his best friend as the guardians of his baby. Claire has always had a crush on Wade and they even shared a kiss before but nothing had ever came from it.
Now they are facing losing the baby if they don’t make themselves look more stable - so they get married.
Wade struggles a lot with past issues from foster care and doesn’t think he can measure up for Claire or his new daughter. There are faith themes throughout this one and Wade & Claire seem to really rely on God to make their marriage work.
Favorite quotes -
For the first time since their arrangement began, this all felt too real. Claire wasn’t just his “fake” wife anymore. She was his—and the thought thrilled and terrified him.
His heart swelled. This moment, this family—his family—evoked a love he hadn’t known he was capable of giving.
Multiple instances of implied intimacy
No foul language
Death (off page)
Grief
Discussions of past foster care neglect
This is my first book by this Author and it is a marriage of convenience. Claire’s brother passes away and leaves her and his best friend as the guardians of his baby. Claire has always had a crush on Wade and they even shared a kiss before but nothing had ever came from it.
Now they are facing losing the baby if they don’t make themselves look more stable - so they get married.
Wade struggles a lot with past issues from foster care and doesn’t think he can measure up for Claire or his new daughter. There are faith themes throughout this one and Wade & Claire seem to really rely on God to make their marriage work.
Favorite quotes -
For the first time since their arrangement began, this all felt too real. Claire wasn’t just his “fake” wife anymore. She was his—and the thought thrilled and terrified him.
His heart swelled. This moment, this family—his family—evoked a love he hadn’t known he was capable of giving.
Multiple instances of implied intimacy
No foul language
Death (off page)
Grief
Discussions of past foster care neglect
July 23, 2025
I know I’m never going to be disappointed when I read one of RoseFresquez’ books. And this one definitely did not disappoint.
Claire and Wade have been joint custody granted of her brother’s child after his death. There’s no surprise that Claire was named. After all, she’s been taking care of baby Bella from day one. The surprise is the naming of Wade. He and Bella‘s dad were best friends, but Wade does not consider himself parent material and is not looking for any kind of long-term commitment to a woman or a child… not because he’s a jerk but because he has great doubts about himself and where he came from.
I loved watching Wade’s fiercely protective side as well as his heart to provide. I love the scenes with him and Bella, where he is a dad, whether he realizes it or not. My heart hurt when he struggled with doubts and fears. And my heart hurt for Claire who was way down with caring for so many and the burdens that come with that.
Claire and Wade have been joint custody granted of her brother’s child after his death. There’s no surprise that Claire was named. After all, she’s been taking care of baby Bella from day one. The surprise is the naming of Wade. He and Bella‘s dad were best friends, but Wade does not consider himself parent material and is not looking for any kind of long-term commitment to a woman or a child… not because he’s a jerk but because he has great doubts about himself and where he came from.
I loved watching Wade’s fiercely protective side as well as his heart to provide. I love the scenes with him and Bella, where he is a dad, whether he realizes it or not. My heart hurt when he struggled with doubts and fears. And my heart hurt for Claire who was way down with caring for so many and the burdens that come with that.
February 8, 2025
A Convenient Marriage is an absolutely wonderful book full of love, faith, and character growth. I was drawn to Clair’s character, but Wade’s brokenness is what grabbed my interest, had me rooting for him from the start. He is someone with a great capacity for love who just needs a safe place to grow. And Claire becomes that safe place.
The tension in this book was written in a way that held my interest and kept me engaged with the characters. All of the side characters added dimension to the story and I loved connecting with members of the Stone family from previous books.
If you love romance, complex characters, and family dynamics you’ll love this book. I highly recommend it.
The tension in this book was written in a way that held my interest and kept me engaged with the characters. All of the side characters added dimension to the story and I loved connecting with members of the Stone family from previous books.
If you love romance, complex characters, and family dynamics you’ll love this book. I highly recommend it.
April 5, 2025
Rose Fresquez is one of my favorite authors, and I absolutely loved this Christian romance! Wade is Claire's brother's best friend. She's had a crush on him forever, knowing he doesn't believe in love. When Claire's brother dies, leaving Claire and Wade as joint guardians for his baby daughter, they enter into a marriage of convenience to protect her from unsuitable grandparents. I loved how sweet Wade was with the baby and how well he treated Claire. I loved Wade's journey to realizing he couldn't live without them. Beautifully written; it kept me up late into the night.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
February 23, 2025
This was a beautiful, heartfelt marriage of convenience story that truly touched my heart and made me cry at the end. The story and the characters of Claire, Wade, and little Bella really brought the story to life and pulled me into the book. Wade was Claire's childhood crush and she was now guardian to Bella and Wade just so happened to be the other guardian listed in his sister's will. I couldn't wait to see how the book would end. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
March 2, 2025
Wade had always been attracted to his best friend's little sister, but he didn't do commitment or believe he was worthy of love because of childhood abandonment and neglect. When he and Claire got married to secure custody of baby Bella, he thought he could keep them at arm's length, but he got emotionally involved. However he let his doubts and fears take over instead of trusting God. I loved how his family were so involved, both with practical help and wise advice, helping them get their HEA. I received an ARC but this review is my own.
March 4, 2025
Love and Christ can Change You
This is a sweet but frustrating story about a supposed marriage of convenience between Claire and Wade. They have always loved each other but never admitted it to each other. I am frustrated by Christians who believe Christ's atonement works for everyone but them. Wade takes a long time to believe he can be a good husband and father. He listens to his negative sister's opinion of him, more than everyone else who loves him, including Claire. Will they save their real marriage? Read "A Convenient Marriage" to find out.
This is a sweet but frustrating story about a supposed marriage of convenience between Claire and Wade. They have always loved each other but never admitted it to each other. I am frustrated by Christians who believe Christ's atonement works for everyone but them. Wade takes a long time to believe he can be a good husband and father. He listens to his negative sister's opinion of him, more than everyone else who loves him, including Claire. Will they save their real marriage? Read "A Convenient Marriage" to find out.
February 17, 2025
I have enjoyed all of Rose's books, but this is my favorite so far. I love Claire and Wade's story. He was her brother's best friend. She had been in love with him for many years.
When Claire's brother, Albert, passed away, he gave joint guardianship of his little girl to Claire and Wade. How would they handle the situation? Would they think about a marriage of convenience? Could it become more?
I received a free ARC, and this is my honest opinion.
When Claire's brother, Albert, passed away, he gave joint guardianship of his little girl to Claire and Wade. How would they handle the situation? Would they think about a marriage of convenience? Could it become more?
I received a free ARC, and this is my honest opinion.
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