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Balance of Power #2
The Promises We Break
Ember
It was supposed to be one night with one incredibly handsome stranger. A night of giving into temptation and forgetting all my inhibitions. Instead, it ends with wedding vows and promises of “I do”.
But it turns out, this is exactly what we need for the sake of both our blooming careers. Especially after my new boss tasks me with the opening of a hot new lifestyle club.
Hudson needs me to wear the title of wife for the benefit of his career, and I need him to teach me the lifestyle to solidify mine. Adding sex lessons to our agreement surely won’t complicate things, right?
We’re blurring the lines of business and pleasure, unable to avoid the contagious desire between us. But I need to keep this strictly professional and emotion-free; it’s the only way I can get through it.
Forever is not what I signed up for, and there is no other way that this can end except with divorce papers and broken promises.
Hudson
I am never letting her go.
One year.
I have one year to convince her that our future is forever.
The Promises We Break is a Marriage of Convenience Romance and an interconnected standalone in the Balance of Power book series. You do not need to read any prior books, but it's always recommended. As usual, please check TW's before reading.
It was supposed to be one night with one incredibly handsome stranger. A night of giving into temptation and forgetting all my inhibitions. Instead, it ends with wedding vows and promises of “I do”.
But it turns out, this is exactly what we need for the sake of both our blooming careers. Especially after my new boss tasks me with the opening of a hot new lifestyle club.
Hudson needs me to wear the title of wife for the benefit of his career, and I need him to teach me the lifestyle to solidify mine. Adding sex lessons to our agreement surely won’t complicate things, right?
We’re blurring the lines of business and pleasure, unable to avoid the contagious desire between us. But I need to keep this strictly professional and emotion-free; it’s the only way I can get through it.
Forever is not what I signed up for, and there is no other way that this can end except with divorce papers and broken promises.
Hudson
I am never letting her go.
One year.
I have one year to convince her that our future is forever.
The Promises We Break is a Marriage of Convenience Romance and an interconnected standalone in the Balance of Power book series. You do not need to read any prior books, but it's always recommended. As usual, please check TW's before reading.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 5, 2024
216 people are currently reading
1479 people want to read
About the author
Berlin Wick
5 books194 followersBerlin was raised in a tiny town in North Idaho who migrated to the Bay Area, California where she still resides with her husband and two boys. Her bucket list items include skydiving, attending the Oscars, becoming a New York Times Best Selling author, and cruising the world for retirement. She loves writing strong females and powerful alpha males. Reading ANY and ALL kinds of romance novels is her jam and she loves engaging with the booksta community. You can find her most active on instagram!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
July 8, 2025
Tropes-
Strangers to lovers
Marriage of Convenience
He falls first
Forced proximity
Spicy lessons
Vegas wedding
K!nk exploration
Found family
✨️Thank you to Berlin for the ALC for my honest review! This is my second book that I've read by Berlin, and she just knows how to write a story that instantly pulls you in! These two have a meet-cute, instant connection on a plane ride, and go away thinking they'll never see each other again. Little did they know, they'd run into each other again at bachelor/bachelorette parties in Vegas. The next thing they know, they wake up married 🤭. I loved the growth of these characters and their relationship and the SPICE 🥵.. Woo! I laughed, I cried, and everything in between. The narrators did an amazing job bringing these characters to life! I definitely recommend this book to all my friends, even better if you listen to the audio!
Strangers to lovers
Marriage of Convenience
He falls first
Forced proximity
Spicy lessons
Vegas wedding
K!nk exploration
Found family
✨️Thank you to Berlin for the ALC for my honest review! This is my second book that I've read by Berlin, and she just knows how to write a story that instantly pulls you in! These two have a meet-cute, instant connection on a plane ride, and go away thinking they'll never see each other again. Little did they know, they'd run into each other again at bachelor/bachelorette parties in Vegas. The next thing they know, they wake up married 🤭. I loved the growth of these characters and their relationship and the SPICE 🥵.. Woo! I laughed, I cried, and everything in between. The narrators did an amazing job bringing these characters to life! I definitely recommend this book to all my friends, even better if you listen to the audio!
August 23, 2024
First off, HOLY SHIT! I am floored with this writing and story, Berlin is incredibly talented at storytelling. I already knew I'd like this book from the get out but she took this to a whole other level!
LOVED IT. Literally *chef's kiss*
I laughed, I cried, I gasped, I was horny. This book had all the right stuff for a perfect romance book with an actual real life (like it could totes happen to me) story and plot that I just loved every second of it. Hats off to Berlin, for real, this was perfect.
I had the absolute pleasure of BETA reading this and again another arc read and I just love it. Fast-paced, interesting characters with heartfelt backstories (with a villainous twist!), and serious romance and hot hot sexiness just made this an awesome read.
My fave quotes:
“I’m either low on oxygen or high on Ember.”
“Look at that man, all meaty and lickable.”
And that doesn’t even scratch the surface of how many times I laughed out loud, blushed from the *ehem* scenes, cried from the tenderness and show of love, and of course LOVED seeing past characters intertwined into this story (can someone read this asap so we can please talk about THAT scene?!) and literally Cruz is always an icon.
Thank you to Berlin for creating this series! Can’t wait to see whose story is up next!
LOVED IT. Literally *chef's kiss*
I laughed, I cried, I gasped, I was horny. This book had all the right stuff for a perfect romance book with an actual real life (like it could totes happen to me) story and plot that I just loved every second of it. Hats off to Berlin, for real, this was perfect.
I had the absolute pleasure of BETA reading this and again another arc read and I just love it. Fast-paced, interesting characters with heartfelt backstories (with a villainous twist!), and serious romance and hot hot sexiness just made this an awesome read.
My fave quotes:
“I’m either low on oxygen or high on Ember.”
“Look at that man, all meaty and lickable.”
And that doesn’t even scratch the surface of how many times I laughed out loud, blushed from the *ehem* scenes, cried from the tenderness and show of love, and of course LOVED seeing past characters intertwined into this story (can someone read this asap so we can please talk about THAT scene?!) and literally Cruz is always an icon.
Thank you to Berlin for creating this series! Can’t wait to see whose story is up next!
August 27, 2025
okay after balling my eyes out I needed something less emotional and more spicy and this one hit the mark.
Ember and Hudson meet on an airplane and have instant chemistry. They find each other again at thei night out in Vegas and wake up married to one another. Deciding to take care of that in the future they part ways.
As fate would have it they meet again in Seattle when they both end of up having to move there and keep up the marriage as it will help them both in their careers.
This book was fun and spicy. I mean Hudson...phew! That man. Give me an athlete anytime and I will be obsessed with them. He was literally obsessed with Ember from the jump and would do anything to keep her forever.
Ember...this woman was so incredible fierce and independent. I love that she finally opened up to Hudson and let herself have something good.
This series is extremely underhyped. These books have the perfect balance of story to spice. Berlin's writing style make these so easy to read.
Overall: 5
Spice: 4
Tropes:
Vegas wedding
Marriage of Convenience
Baseball Romance
Strangers to Lovers
He Falls First
K!nk exploration
Voyeurism
Found Family
Ember and Hudson meet on an airplane and have instant chemistry. They find each other again at thei night out in Vegas and wake up married to one another. Deciding to take care of that in the future they part ways.
As fate would have it they meet again in Seattle when they both end of up having to move there and keep up the marriage as it will help them both in their careers.
This book was fun and spicy. I mean Hudson...phew! That man. Give me an athlete anytime and I will be obsessed with them. He was literally obsessed with Ember from the jump and would do anything to keep her forever.
Ember...this woman was so incredible fierce and independent. I love that she finally opened up to Hudson and let herself have something good.
This series is extremely underhyped. These books have the perfect balance of story to spice. Berlin's writing style make these so easy to read.
Overall: 5
Spice: 4
Tropes:
Vegas wedding
Marriage of Convenience
Baseball Romance
Strangers to Lovers
He Falls First
K!nk exploration
Voyeurism
Found Family
November 10, 2025
4.25⭐️
Oh wow that was such a great read. Hudson and Ember were such a great duo. I loved the whole set up of this book, meeting on a plane, both attending a bachelor/bachelorette party in Vegas, getting drunk and married and then realising they both need to stay married for the convenience. Such a fun trope.
But what ended up happening is this turned quite emotional as the characters started to connect and open up to each other about their pasts. Particularly Ember, she had a lot of unfortunate baggage due to her family and upbringing and it caused a lot of understandable barriers in her relationship with Hudson.
There was a fun smutty side to this also. I love a good sex club in a read and this has it. I also love kink exploration and they both explored new things in order to please each other. Was super cool. The story and journey they went on was done so well. There was a particular voyeur bit in the book that I bloody loved. Didn’t expect it but it bridged a curiosity I had with something in the first book.
Hudson was a bloody adorable muffin. So loving and attentive. Ember and him made a great duo, I hope we get to see how they are going in the next book, which is about Jake and Hudson’s friend Seamus. Definitely looking forward to that read.
Oh wow that was such a great read. Hudson and Ember were such a great duo. I loved the whole set up of this book, meeting on a plane, both attending a bachelor/bachelorette party in Vegas, getting drunk and married and then realising they both need to stay married for the convenience. Such a fun trope.
But what ended up happening is this turned quite emotional as the characters started to connect and open up to each other about their pasts. Particularly Ember, she had a lot of unfortunate baggage due to her family and upbringing and it caused a lot of understandable barriers in her relationship with Hudson.
There was a fun smutty side to this also. I love a good sex club in a read and this has it. I also love kink exploration and they both explored new things in order to please each other. Was super cool. The story and journey they went on was done so well. There was a particular voyeur bit in the book that I bloody loved. Didn’t expect it but it bridged a curiosity I had with something in the first book.
Hudson was a bloody adorable muffin. So loving and attentive. Ember and him made a great duo, I hope we get to see how they are going in the next book, which is about Jake and Hudson’s friend Seamus. Definitely looking forward to that read.
July 13, 2025
Letting Go to Move Forward
This author is new to me and I have to say I’m pleasantly surprised. I don’t know what I expected going in, but this story absolutely gave. I was taken on an emotional ride that had me tearing up at times and getting hot under the collar at others.
Tropes:
Vegas Wedding
He Falls First
One Bed
Forced Proximity
Ember and Hudson are two strangers who meet on a plane headed to Vegas. She’s going to her friend’s Bachelorette Party and he’s headed to his BFF’s Belated Bachelor Party. They hit it off and Hudson hopes to keep this thing going once they hit Vegas, but Ember quickly disappears upon disembarking not leaving a number or her last name. Fate seems to have plans on these two getting together because they meet up again at the same club, have too many drinks and wake up the next day married. Accidental marriage turns into marriage of convenience. Sign me up!
I fell in love with Hudson almost immediately. It’s so clear that he’s got a good heart and is an all round good person. He’s not perfect, but no one is and he acknowledges more than once the work he’s done or needs to keep doing in order to move on from some of the baggage he’s been carrying. Ember helps him see some of the things he couldn’t and not only does he find himself falling for her, he soon realizes that he can’t live without her. When you know, you know. Unfortunately Ember has been very damaged by her family and her first instinct often is to run, but it soon becomes obvious that it would be mutually beneficial if they both stayed married.
Maybe these two got together by accident, but they’re just so good as a couple. I loved how Hudson did everything to support Ember and even when he could take over in certain aspects, he didn’t because he knew that’s not what she wanted. He knew she was a strong, capable woman who could soar on her own and he only wanted to be the one to be at her side. I love how they both would give and take in their power dynamic. They had a wonderful partnership. It wasn’t one sided or overly stacked on one side. This book showed great examples of how sometimes you need to walk away from people who aren’t good for you. I loved how Ember found a new family with wonderful new friends and truly stepped into her own.
Both of these characters go through the fire to come out the other side and I was so invested. I about wanted to bawl my eyes out during a short 3rd act breakup, but thank God it all came together with a beautiful HEA. The ending was well earned and I really enjoyed this read. There are some super hot and steamy scenes with some kinky fun for all you spice lovers. So buckle up for a fun ride!
ALC Review
I already knew I loved this book, but I can wholeheartedly say the audiobook made it even better! Branden Davis-Butler and Grayson Owens narrated in duet and absolutely nailed these characters.
Branden perfectly captured the many layers of Ember’s personality—you really feel like you're right there beside her as she grows and comes into her own. Grayson did a fantastic job as Hudson (not to mention all the other guys in the book). He brought a sexy, swoony quality to Hudson that made you want to hang on every word. Well done, sir!
Both narrators did a wonderful job bringing the supporting characters to life as well. I fell even more in love with this couple than I did the first time around.
If you're looking for a steamy listen with an HEA you'll be sighing over, I highly recommend giving this one the attention it deserves. Five stars all the way!
This author is new to me and I have to say I’m pleasantly surprised. I don’t know what I expected going in, but this story absolutely gave. I was taken on an emotional ride that had me tearing up at times and getting hot under the collar at others.
Tropes:
Vegas Wedding
He Falls First
One Bed
Forced Proximity
Ember and Hudson are two strangers who meet on a plane headed to Vegas. She’s going to her friend’s Bachelorette Party and he’s headed to his BFF’s Belated Bachelor Party. They hit it off and Hudson hopes to keep this thing going once they hit Vegas, but Ember quickly disappears upon disembarking not leaving a number or her last name. Fate seems to have plans on these two getting together because they meet up again at the same club, have too many drinks and wake up the next day married. Accidental marriage turns into marriage of convenience. Sign me up!
I fell in love with Hudson almost immediately. It’s so clear that he’s got a good heart and is an all round good person. He’s not perfect, but no one is and he acknowledges more than once the work he’s done or needs to keep doing in order to move on from some of the baggage he’s been carrying. Ember helps him see some of the things he couldn’t and not only does he find himself falling for her, he soon realizes that he can’t live without her. When you know, you know. Unfortunately Ember has been very damaged by her family and her first instinct often is to run, but it soon becomes obvious that it would be mutually beneficial if they both stayed married.
Maybe these two got together by accident, but they’re just so good as a couple. I loved how Hudson did everything to support Ember and even when he could take over in certain aspects, he didn’t because he knew that’s not what she wanted. He knew she was a strong, capable woman who could soar on her own and he only wanted to be the one to be at her side. I love how they both would give and take in their power dynamic. They had a wonderful partnership. It wasn’t one sided or overly stacked on one side. This book showed great examples of how sometimes you need to walk away from people who aren’t good for you. I loved how Ember found a new family with wonderful new friends and truly stepped into her own.
Both of these characters go through the fire to come out the other side and I was so invested. I about wanted to bawl my eyes out during a short 3rd act breakup, but thank God it all came together with a beautiful HEA. The ending was well earned and I really enjoyed this read. There are some super hot and steamy scenes with some kinky fun for all you spice lovers. So buckle up for a fun ride!
ALC Review
I already knew I loved this book, but I can wholeheartedly say the audiobook made it even better! Branden Davis-Butler and Grayson Owens narrated in duet and absolutely nailed these characters.
Branden perfectly captured the many layers of Ember’s personality—you really feel like you're right there beside her as she grows and comes into her own. Grayson did a fantastic job as Hudson (not to mention all the other guys in the book). He brought a sexy, swoony quality to Hudson that made you want to hang on every word. Well done, sir!
Both narrators did a wonderful job bringing the supporting characters to life as well. I fell even more in love with this couple than I did the first time around.
If you're looking for a steamy listen with an HEA you'll be sighing over, I highly recommend giving this one the attention it deserves. Five stars all the way!
June 30, 2025
This is my first time reading Berlin Wick and I am in LOVE! 😍 I was lucky enough to listen to the ALC of The Promises We Break, while following along in the book. Shout out to Branden Davis-Butler and Grayson Owen's for a phenomenal narration performance! I do love a marriage of convenience read!
I absolutely devoured Hudson and Ember's story. These two were magnetic from the first page. Their banter and fun wit is exciting to read and I loved how they met! The airplane meet up gave me all the feels, Ember's shy nature is actually really funny at first too, she really took off like she was on fire. 😂
Ember's character for me is captivating because she has so much growth throughout the story. Her self journey of believing in herself, deconstructing her parents thoughts and views of what her life should look like, and opening herself up to love is beautiful.
Hudson is the epitome of golden retriever energy! From the start he's just got this charismatic energy, and I'm obsessed with him falling so hard for Ember, and so fast too. He may have a complicated connection with his oldest brother, but overall his family dynamic is so supportive and loving, and that really shows in the way he expresses himself toward Ember.
The sexual energy with these two as well? Off the charts! I couldn't get enough of their exploration and willingness to try new things. It really is the shy ones that surprise you the most! 🥵
I cannot wait to read more from Berlin Wick! I'll be running back to read Jake, Elena and Christian's story! 🔥
I absolutely devoured Hudson and Ember's story. These two were magnetic from the first page. Their banter and fun wit is exciting to read and I loved how they met! The airplane meet up gave me all the feels, Ember's shy nature is actually really funny at first too, she really took off like she was on fire. 😂
Ember's character for me is captivating because she has so much growth throughout the story. Her self journey of believing in herself, deconstructing her parents thoughts and views of what her life should look like, and opening herself up to love is beautiful.
Hudson is the epitome of golden retriever energy! From the start he's just got this charismatic energy, and I'm obsessed with him falling so hard for Ember, and so fast too. He may have a complicated connection with his oldest brother, but overall his family dynamic is so supportive and loving, and that really shows in the way he expresses himself toward Ember.
The sexual energy with these two as well? Off the charts! I couldn't get enough of their exploration and willingness to try new things. It really is the shy ones that surprise you the most! 🥵
I cannot wait to read more from Berlin Wick! I'll be running back to read Jake, Elena and Christian's story! 🔥
August 27, 2024
Male perspective - started this book on a plane heading to a business conference (ironic because of the opening scenes in the book), and did everything I could to leave the drinking and gatherings of the afterparty from the conference to read this book in my room each night. Finished it on the plane ride home.
Absolutely addicting, and when I finished it I felt like I had just watched a movie, not read a book.
I really enjoyed the commingling of the characters from Berlin's first book with these characters, it felt like an extended universe as opposed to a completely separate book
She does a great job of leaving the reader in the dark about Ember's feelings for JUST long enough to get me frustrated. I hear the author has a movie background so it doesn't surprise me that she is good at painting such a good picture with her words
Read this book, before she gets discovered, famous, and has to water down her whisky
Absolutely addicting, and when I finished it I felt like I had just watched a movie, not read a book.
I really enjoyed the commingling of the characters from Berlin's first book with these characters, it felt like an extended universe as opposed to a completely separate book
She does a great job of leaving the reader in the dark about Ember's feelings for JUST long enough to get me frustrated. I hear the author has a movie background so it doesn't surprise me that she is good at painting such a good picture with her words
Read this book, before she gets discovered, famous, and has to water down her whisky
September 6, 2024
RATING: 4.5/5
I love marriage of convenience stories and the “Oops, we got married in Vegas,” too. Author Berlin Wick combines both in “The Promises We Break.” I loved Ember's fierce independence as she struggled with her family and the life she had built for herself. Hudson was an incredible character who was shown to be not just a typical baseball player. Though he had challenges, his love for Ember had taken precedence as the story progressed. The scenes between Hudson and Ember having intimate lessons because of her lack of experience were very steamy. Kudos to Hudson because wall sits will never be viewed the same way again by me.
I love marriage of convenience stories and the “Oops, we got married in Vegas,” too. Author Berlin Wick combines both in “The Promises We Break.” I loved Ember's fierce independence as she struggled with her family and the life she had built for herself. Hudson was an incredible character who was shown to be not just a typical baseball player. Though he had challenges, his love for Ember had taken precedence as the story progressed. The scenes between Hudson and Ember having intimate lessons because of her lack of experience were very steamy. Kudos to Hudson because wall sits will never be viewed the same way again by me.
July 7, 2025
I have never used Google more often while reading a book than I did this one. I learned so much - but I think I need to delete my google history. LOL.
Berlin Wick is a genius when it comes to giving you a heartfelt story that includes enough spice to make you blush. Learning things about yourself that you never knew.
While the MMC is a baseball player this is not the sports centered story you would think. With a beautiful story and a FMC that gains strength throughout the book - this story brings you in and keeps you enthralled throughout.
Berlin Wick is a genius when it comes to giving you a heartfelt story that includes enough spice to make you blush. Learning things about yourself that you never knew.
While the MMC is a baseball player this is not the sports centered story you would think. With a beautiful story and a FMC that gains strength throughout the book - this story brings you in and keeps you enthralled throughout.
August 18, 2025
4.5⭐️! This was even better than the first in the series. I think I’ve just found a new auto buy author!
September 9, 2024
I loved book 1 but my god this book had me hooked.
Hudson and Ember story was a masterpiece, I loved a fake relationship vegas wedding book.
Berlin has written both Main characters perfectly the character growth these two throughout the book had be turning the page see what was to come.
Hudson is my dream MMC strong, possessive but loved so hard your heart just melts
Ember my god she is one strong woman after everything she has been through she just grows and grows.
The added bonus as alway in a series we get to see characters from book 1 and I’m hoping that book3 is Seamus book.
This book has everything a great story, heartfelt moneys and my god the steamy scenes 🥵🔥
For me it 5 huge 🌟
Hudson and Ember story was a masterpiece, I loved a fake relationship vegas wedding book.
Berlin has written both Main characters perfectly the character growth these two throughout the book had be turning the page see what was to come.
Hudson is my dream MMC strong, possessive but loved so hard your heart just melts
Ember my god she is one strong woman after everything she has been through she just grows and grows.
The added bonus as alway in a series we get to see characters from book 1 and I’m hoping that book3 is Seamus book.
This book has everything a great story, heartfelt moneys and my god the steamy scenes 🥵🔥
For me it 5 huge 🌟
July 4, 2025
This is an ARC review
Ms. Berlin Wick, you DO NOT disappoint 👏👏
I love Hudson and Ember. Hudson is such a romantic, hot catcher, and Ember is a strong, independent, business-savvy woman.
This book got me laughing, and crying, and had me calling my husband for *ahem* help on some things *ahem*.
Ember was having trouble finding her self-worth, and what I love most was that Hudson helped her, guiding her, helping her discover herself. We love a man who uplifts his queen.
**UPDATE ALC REVIEW **
Grayson Owens and Branden Davis-Butler narrated this book and did amazing. Grayson's voice was what I imagined Hudson sounded like. So smooth, calming and so sexy. Branden was just as sexy as Ember. She brought that dominating voice in the scenes where they were *ahem* doing activities.
Overall the audiobook was amazing. its out now.
Ms. Berlin Wick, you DO NOT disappoint 👏👏
I love Hudson and Ember. Hudson is such a romantic, hot catcher, and Ember is a strong, independent, business-savvy woman.
This book got me laughing, and crying, and had me calling my husband for *ahem* help on some things *ahem*.
Ember was having trouble finding her self-worth, and what I love most was that Hudson helped her, guiding her, helping her discover herself. We love a man who uplifts his queen.
**UPDATE ALC REVIEW **
Grayson Owens and Branden Davis-Butler narrated this book and did amazing. Grayson's voice was what I imagined Hudson sounded like. So smooth, calming and so sexy. Branden was just as sexy as Ember. She brought that dominating voice in the scenes where they were *ahem* doing activities.
Overall the audiobook was amazing. its out now.
November 27, 2025
I’m so sorry, but this story just sucked horse shit! It was so fucking bad. And I absolutely hated, hated, HATED the FMC, because she was the worst!
The MMC and FMC meet for the first time on a plane, when they are going to their friends’ bachelor and bachelorette parties. They have an instant connection, and the MMC basically falls in love at first sight with the FMC, but she is a runner. And boy, did she run. She ran throughout the entire story to the point that I felt like she’s got to be one of the most unstable people in the universe.
Our main characters meet again in a club (erotic dance) for their respective parties. The MMC gets jealous when a male stripper is grinding his groin into the FMC, and that’s when he decides to stake his claim. By the end of that evening, they end up married in Vegas.
The FMC, being a runner, runs the second she realizes what has happened in the morning, and she demands a divorce. The MMC, being this lovesick puppy, is actually contemplating it!
Anyway, they leave Vegas and go back to their respective home cities. The MMC moves to Seattle after being drafted by a baseball team there after a longtime injury and playing in the minors, and the FMC miraculously gets a job in the same city after escaping her poisonous family, who want to marry her off to her ex and are obsessed with their image since the FMC’s father is running for mayor in the city they are from. Later in the story, it is revealed that the FMC’s mother cheated on her father, and that the FMC was the result of that cheating. And that’s basically why the FMC’s father was treating her so badly and the FMC’s mother had nothing but hate for her. And the ex that the parents want to marry the FMC to is gay for the FMC’s brother, and was basically in a relationship with her so he could sneak around with the older brother. But since the parents are homophobes and the ex is desperate for a career in politics, he goes along with the plan.
Anyway, back to Seattle. The couple meets again in Seattle and they end up living together. It also turns out that the FMC miraculously gets hired by the MMC’s friend’s wife and her other husband (they are in a poly relationship).
And after that, the story turns even more south. The FMC, who has been sheltered her entire life and basically has been in no relationships, manages to convince her employer to open a sex club. From that point on, the entire story is just about sex. She needs the sexual experience to run the sex club, so she asks the MMC (her husband) to help her. And that was cringey and boring as fuck to read.
It was so out of character for her to first convince everyone to open a sex club and then be in charge of it and its opening, and then on top of that doing a lot of sexual stuff with the MMC. Let’s not forget about the FMC and the MMC walking in on the FMC’s boss, her husband who is the MMC’s friend, and her other husband having a threesome, and then watching them at the same time as having sex with each other! 😫 On top of that, the FMC was constantly planning an escape plan, and had absolutely no thoughts or concerns about the MMC, who clearly was falling for her dumb and toxic ass!
So when the opportunity arises during the club’s opening that a position for the company has opened, she takes it and runs. At this point, I want to find the FMC and punch her. But very soon after, she realizes that she did the wrong thing, as the company’s boss tells her about his past mistakes and picking his work over his partner, and that makes her run back to the MMC. 🙃
And his insecure dumb ass takes her back, when she in fact should be locked in a cage and go through some intense therapy and then probably never be let out again!
Why is the MMC so insecure? So his older brother is the reason the MMC got injured in the first place, since he has always been jealous of the attention the MMC got from everyone. The brother claimed that the injury was an accident, but still stole the MMC’s fiancée. That was the weirdest shit ever.
So this story was just so much. So many things happened. So many of the side characters were involved and their stories were shared. Everything just made this story into a soap opera and even worse, it also made the main characters seem so unreliable and unstable!
Like I said in the story, I absolutely hated the FMC! And wasn’t really a fan of the writing either! Literally a waste of my time. Should have DNF’d the second the FMC ran from the plane! Don’t really know what the other readers were on, since the majority of people have given this story very high ratings!
So I’m going to be honest and give this story 1/5 stars. ⭐️
The MMC and FMC meet for the first time on a plane, when they are going to their friends’ bachelor and bachelorette parties. They have an instant connection, and the MMC basically falls in love at first sight with the FMC, but she is a runner. And boy, did she run. She ran throughout the entire story to the point that I felt like she’s got to be one of the most unstable people in the universe.
Our main characters meet again in a club (erotic dance) for their respective parties. The MMC gets jealous when a male stripper is grinding his groin into the FMC, and that’s when he decides to stake his claim. By the end of that evening, they end up married in Vegas.
The FMC, being a runner, runs the second she realizes what has happened in the morning, and she demands a divorce. The MMC, being this lovesick puppy, is actually contemplating it!
Anyway, they leave Vegas and go back to their respective home cities. The MMC moves to Seattle after being drafted by a baseball team there after a longtime injury and playing in the minors, and the FMC miraculously gets a job in the same city after escaping her poisonous family, who want to marry her off to her ex and are obsessed with their image since the FMC’s father is running for mayor in the city they are from. Later in the story, it is revealed that the FMC’s mother cheated on her father, and that the FMC was the result of that cheating. And that’s basically why the FMC’s father was treating her so badly and the FMC’s mother had nothing but hate for her. And the ex that the parents want to marry the FMC to is gay for the FMC’s brother, and was basically in a relationship with her so he could sneak around with the older brother. But since the parents are homophobes and the ex is desperate for a career in politics, he goes along with the plan.
Anyway, back to Seattle. The couple meets again in Seattle and they end up living together. It also turns out that the FMC miraculously gets hired by the MMC’s friend’s wife and her other husband (they are in a poly relationship).
And after that, the story turns even more south. The FMC, who has been sheltered her entire life and basically has been in no relationships, manages to convince her employer to open a sex club. From that point on, the entire story is just about sex. She needs the sexual experience to run the sex club, so she asks the MMC (her husband) to help her. And that was cringey and boring as fuck to read.
It was so out of character for her to first convince everyone to open a sex club and then be in charge of it and its opening, and then on top of that doing a lot of sexual stuff with the MMC. Let’s not forget about the FMC and the MMC walking in on the FMC’s boss, her husband who is the MMC’s friend, and her other husband having a threesome, and then watching them at the same time as having sex with each other! 😫 On top of that, the FMC was constantly planning an escape plan, and had absolutely no thoughts or concerns about the MMC, who clearly was falling for her dumb and toxic ass!
So when the opportunity arises during the club’s opening that a position for the company has opened, she takes it and runs. At this point, I want to find the FMC and punch her. But very soon after, she realizes that she did the wrong thing, as the company’s boss tells her about his past mistakes and picking his work over his partner, and that makes her run back to the MMC. 🙃
And his insecure dumb ass takes her back, when she in fact should be locked in a cage and go through some intense therapy and then probably never be let out again!
Why is the MMC so insecure? So his older brother is the reason the MMC got injured in the first place, since he has always been jealous of the attention the MMC got from everyone. The brother claimed that the injury was an accident, but still stole the MMC’s fiancée. That was the weirdest shit ever.
So this story was just so much. So many things happened. So many of the side characters were involved and their stories were shared. Everything just made this story into a soap opera and even worse, it also made the main characters seem so unreliable and unstable!
Like I said in the story, I absolutely hated the FMC! And wasn’t really a fan of the writing either! Literally a waste of my time. Should have DNF’d the second the FMC ran from the plane! Don’t really know what the other readers were on, since the majority of people have given this story very high ratings!
So I’m going to be honest and give this story 1/5 stars. ⭐️
September 2, 2024
This is my first time reading Berlin Wick and it will not be my last. I was blown away by the writing and this story. The emotional turns this story takes - and the SPICE! Holy moly - I want more.
Qᴜɪᴄᴋ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴠɪᴇᴡ: ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴀ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴍᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴀ ꜰʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴠᴇɢᴀꜱ, ᴇᴍʙᴇʀ & ʜᴜᴅꜱᴏɴ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴᴛʜɪɴᴋᴀʙʟᴇ - ᴛʜᴇʏ ɢᴇᴛ ᴅʀᴜɴᴋ & ᴇɴᴅ ᴜᴘ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴇᴅ. ᴛᴜʀɴꜱ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ʙᴇɴᴇꜰɪᴛ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴄᴀʀᴇᴇʀꜱ. ꜰᴀᴋᴇ ᴅᴀᴛɪɴɢ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ - ᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ɴᴇᴇᴅꜱ ꜱᴘɪᴄʏ ʟᴇꜱꜱᴏɴꜱ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʟᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʀᴇꜱᴇᴀʀᴄʜ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʟᴜʙ ꜱʜᴇ'ꜱ ᴏᴘᴇɴɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴜᴅꜱᴏɴ ɴᴇᴇᴅꜱ ᴀ ᴡɪꜰᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʟᴘ ʜɪꜱ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪꜱ ɴᴇᴡ ᴛᴇᴀᴍ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɴᴇꜱ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙʟᴜʀ ᴀɴᴅ ꜰᴇᴇʟɪɴɢꜱ ᴇᴠᴏʟᴠᴇ, ᴄᴀɴ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴛʀᴜʟʏ ꜱᴀʏ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴀʀʀᴀɴɢᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪꜱ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ꜰᴀᴋᴇ?
The meet-cute between Hudson & Ember is one of my favorites. Their instant chemistry is fire & the circumstances that continue to bring them together one might think is too convenient but it just works.
Hudson is golden retriever perfection. I absolutely ate up his backstory - I love a good family drama and this one (for both Hudson & Ember) had plenty. Hudson falls hard & fast for Ember and the way that man supports her - SWOON!
Ember surprised me. When we first meet her, the impression is this experienced confidence but really her confidence comes from determination. She leans on Hudson for that "experience" and tho guarded, I loved how she slowly lets him in. Her job was such a great element - the club and "research" she does with Hudson gave us the spice but in ways that had me smiling with glee and turned on. The elements created here are so unique and made this read so great.
Their character growth, especially Ember, pulled hard on the emotional strings. I laughed, I cried, I got turned on and there were some jaw-dropping moments I did not see coming. From start to finish, this was such a wonderful story & had me downloading book 1 ASAP. And we get a tease for what book 3 might be about at the end of this one - I cannot wait!
⚾️ Pro Baseball Player x Marketing Manager
❤️ Strangers to Lovers
💍 Marriage of Convenience
💖 He falls first & hard
➶ Fake "dating"
🏡 Forced Proximity
🌶️ Spicy lessons
🔥 K!nk exploration
❣️ Insta-connection
💒 Vegas Wedding
🫶 Found Family
✌🏻 Dual POV
4.5⭐️
Qᴜɪᴄᴋ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴠɪᴇᴡ: ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴀ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴍᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴀ ꜰʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴠᴇɢᴀꜱ, ᴇᴍʙᴇʀ & ʜᴜᴅꜱᴏɴ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴᴛʜɪɴᴋᴀʙʟᴇ - ᴛʜᴇʏ ɢᴇᴛ ᴅʀᴜɴᴋ & ᴇɴᴅ ᴜᴘ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴇᴅ. ᴛᴜʀɴꜱ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ʙᴇɴᴇꜰɪᴛ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴄᴀʀᴇᴇʀꜱ. ꜰᴀᴋᴇ ᴅᴀᴛɪɴɢ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ - ᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ɴᴇᴇᴅꜱ ꜱᴘɪᴄʏ ʟᴇꜱꜱᴏɴꜱ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʟᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʀᴇꜱᴇᴀʀᴄʜ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʟᴜʙ ꜱʜᴇ'ꜱ ᴏᴘᴇɴɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴜᴅꜱᴏɴ ɴᴇᴇᴅꜱ ᴀ ᴡɪꜰᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʟᴘ ʜɪꜱ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪꜱ ɴᴇᴡ ᴛᴇᴀᴍ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɴᴇꜱ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙʟᴜʀ ᴀɴᴅ ꜰᴇᴇʟɪɴɢꜱ ᴇᴠᴏʟᴠᴇ, ᴄᴀɴ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴛʀᴜʟʏ ꜱᴀʏ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴀʀʀᴀɴɢᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪꜱ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ꜰᴀᴋᴇ?
The meet-cute between Hudson & Ember is one of my favorites. Their instant chemistry is fire & the circumstances that continue to bring them together one might think is too convenient but it just works.
Hudson is golden retriever perfection. I absolutely ate up his backstory - I love a good family drama and this one (for both Hudson & Ember) had plenty. Hudson falls hard & fast for Ember and the way that man supports her - SWOON!
Ember surprised me. When we first meet her, the impression is this experienced confidence but really her confidence comes from determination. She leans on Hudson for that "experience" and tho guarded, I loved how she slowly lets him in. Her job was such a great element - the club and "research" she does with Hudson gave us the spice but in ways that had me smiling with glee and turned on. The elements created here are so unique and made this read so great.
Their character growth, especially Ember, pulled hard on the emotional strings. I laughed, I cried, I got turned on and there were some jaw-dropping moments I did not see coming. From start to finish, this was such a wonderful story & had me downloading book 1 ASAP. And we get a tease for what book 3 might be about at the end of this one - I cannot wait!
⚾️ Pro Baseball Player x Marketing Manager
❤️ Strangers to Lovers
💍 Marriage of Convenience
💖 He falls first & hard
➶ Fake "dating"
🏡 Forced Proximity
🌶️ Spicy lessons
🔥 K!nk exploration
❣️ Insta-connection
💒 Vegas Wedding
🫶 Found Family
✌🏻 Dual POV
4.5⭐️
July 2, 2025
Baseball romance
Vegas Wedding
He falls first and hard
Forced proximity
One Bed
Strong FMC
*lessons
Performed in Duet Narration - Grayson Owens and Branden Davis-Butler
*** Absolutely perfect narration. Grayson and Branden gave amazing life to these characters and story. DNABC Verified Duet
Book #2 Balance of Power series
This can be read as a standalone. Best experience is to read The secrets we hide first
Hudson is a basball player on his way to Vegas for a bachelors weekend. His flight has been over booked. The airline attendant gets him into a seat but its not first class so he will just have to cram himself into a smaller seat. Fate has stepped in because he never expected to meet a beautiful women on the plane, Ember is a strong FMC on her way to Vegas for a girls weekend and to get away from her controlling parents. These two have instant chemistry and enjoy a quick flight full of laughs and easy conversation.
After they land Hudson can't find Ember in the airport. Desperate he asks a friend to try and find her but with no last name that is difficult. Another chance meeting has these two spending a crazy night together and waking up the next morning married.
Hudson is a bit on the obsessed side of things and Ember is scared not wanting to get tied down to a man like her parents want her to. Hudson is trying to switch baseball teams but gets himself in a pickle and needs Embers help, she also needs a way out of her parents grasp. Striking up a deal to help each other out they agree to stay married for now. One thing leads to another and of course it turns into more. I truly enjoyed this book and getting to listen to Hudson and Ember find their HEA together.
Overall Berlin Wicks writing style was fun, flirty, Spicy, and easy to follow. Bring on book #3!!!
I highly recommend this book.
Vegas Wedding
He falls first and hard
Forced proximity
One Bed
Strong FMC
*lessons
Performed in Duet Narration - Grayson Owens and Branden Davis-Butler
*** Absolutely perfect narration. Grayson and Branden gave amazing life to these characters and story. DNABC Verified Duet
Book #2 Balance of Power series
This can be read as a standalone. Best experience is to read The secrets we hide first
Hudson is a basball player on his way to Vegas for a bachelors weekend. His flight has been over booked. The airline attendant gets him into a seat but its not first class so he will just have to cram himself into a smaller seat. Fate has stepped in because he never expected to meet a beautiful women on the plane, Ember is a strong FMC on her way to Vegas for a girls weekend and to get away from her controlling parents. These two have instant chemistry and enjoy a quick flight full of laughs and easy conversation.
After they land Hudson can't find Ember in the airport. Desperate he asks a friend to try and find her but with no last name that is difficult. Another chance meeting has these two spending a crazy night together and waking up the next morning married.
Hudson is a bit on the obsessed side of things and Ember is scared not wanting to get tied down to a man like her parents want her to. Hudson is trying to switch baseball teams but gets himself in a pickle and needs Embers help, she also needs a way out of her parents grasp. Striking up a deal to help each other out they agree to stay married for now. One thing leads to another and of course it turns into more. I truly enjoyed this book and getting to listen to Hudson and Ember find their HEA together.
Overall Berlin Wicks writing style was fun, flirty, Spicy, and easy to follow. Bring on book #3!!!
I highly recommend this book.
July 3, 2025
The Promises We Break by Berlin Wick is my first book by this author and most definitely not my last! Thank you to Berlin for the ALC of this book.
⚾️Baseball romance
⚾️One night stand
⚾️Vegas wedding
⚾️Forced proximity
⚾️K!nk exploration
When Ember and Hudson meet on an airplane, they never expect to see one another again. Until they run into each other at a club and end the night married in a Vegas wedding. And they expect what happens in Vegas to stay in Vegas.
Until they both end up in the same city and their marriage can benefit the both of them. Hudson needs Ember as his wife to prove to his team that he is done with his bachelor ways and Ember needs Hudson to teach her all the k!nky things to get a new club up and running.
The chemistry between these two is completely off the charts! I love how both of these characters are starting over in a way, but for two different reasons. There is so much depth to both Hudson and Ember and I loved their individual journeys, as well as their romantic one together. Hudson was the star of the show for me because this man fell HARD. I really want to go back and read/listen to book 1 because Jake, Christian, and Elena have me SO intrigued!
Grayson Owens and Branden Davis-Butler were the perfect duo for this duet narration. Their voices truly fit these characters to a T and I couldn’t imagine anyone else narrating these tow. Grayson brought out all of the dedication and determination that Hudson embodied and Branden brought Ember all the strength and vulnerability throughout.
⚾️Baseball romance
⚾️One night stand
⚾️Vegas wedding
⚾️Forced proximity
⚾️K!nk exploration
When Ember and Hudson meet on an airplane, they never expect to see one another again. Until they run into each other at a club and end the night married in a Vegas wedding. And they expect what happens in Vegas to stay in Vegas.
Until they both end up in the same city and their marriage can benefit the both of them. Hudson needs Ember as his wife to prove to his team that he is done with his bachelor ways and Ember needs Hudson to teach her all the k!nky things to get a new club up and running.
The chemistry between these two is completely off the charts! I love how both of these characters are starting over in a way, but for two different reasons. There is so much depth to both Hudson and Ember and I loved their individual journeys, as well as their romantic one together. Hudson was the star of the show for me because this man fell HARD. I really want to go back and read/listen to book 1 because Jake, Christian, and Elena have me SO intrigued!
Grayson Owens and Branden Davis-Butler were the perfect duo for this duet narration. Their voices truly fit these characters to a T and I couldn’t imagine anyone else narrating these tow. Grayson brought out all of the dedication and determination that Hudson embodied and Branden brought Ember all the strength and vulnerability throughout.
July 5, 2025
I read this book in one sitting because I literally could not put it down. This book has everything: marriage of convenience, instant attraction, kink exploration, found family, and family trauma, all wrapped up in a romance that hits just as hard emotionally as it does physically.
This book follows Hudson, a baseball player determined to make it back to the majors, and Ember, a smart, ambitious marketing exec trying to break free from her family’s traditional expectations. Their accidental Vegas wedding kicks off a wild, emotional, and seriously sexy ride that had me hooked from the start. And let me just say… Chapter 36? I had to pause and go find my husband. 🥵 Chapter 52 was another standout—so spicy, but also intimate in a way that really hit.
I listened to the audiobook, and it made the whole experience even better. It’s a duet narration, and both narrators were amazing. They brought so much life and emotion to Hudson and Ember—it felt like I was right there with them. If you’re an audiobook girly, you need this one in your ears.
Berlin Wick just knows how to write characters that feel real. I fall for them every time. I loved seeing Jake, Elena, Christian and Cruz again (I’m still obsessed with The Secrets We Hide), and this book just cemented Berlin as an auto-buy author for me.
If you love stories that are spicy, emotional, and full of heart—don’t walk, RUN to grab this one.
This book follows Hudson, a baseball player determined to make it back to the majors, and Ember, a smart, ambitious marketing exec trying to break free from her family’s traditional expectations. Their accidental Vegas wedding kicks off a wild, emotional, and seriously sexy ride that had me hooked from the start. And let me just say… Chapter 36? I had to pause and go find my husband. 🥵 Chapter 52 was another standout—so spicy, but also intimate in a way that really hit.
I listened to the audiobook, and it made the whole experience even better. It’s a duet narration, and both narrators were amazing. They brought so much life and emotion to Hudson and Ember—it felt like I was right there with them. If you’re an audiobook girly, you need this one in your ears.
Berlin Wick just knows how to write characters that feel real. I fall for them every time. I loved seeing Jake, Elena, Christian and Cruz again (I’m still obsessed with The Secrets We Hide), and this book just cemented Berlin as an auto-buy author for me.
If you love stories that are spicy, emotional, and full of heart—don’t walk, RUN to grab this one.
July 10, 2025
Ember and Hudson meet on a plane to Vegas, they immediately hit it off and their chemistry is off of the charts. Hudson isn’t able to get Ember’s number before she leaves the airport, but as luck would have it they run into each other at a Vegas club. After quite a few drinks, the two end up married and after a few big life events the two remain married, turning their accidental Vegas marriage into a marriage of convenience.
This was my second book by Berlin Wick and I am hooked! I was captivated with this story from the first chapter. I loved Hudson when he was introduced in The Secrets We Hide, so I was eager to get to his story. Hudson is the ultimate book boyfriend, he falls first and hard, he is determined to show Ember her worth and he is devoted to her happiness. Ember was fierce and independent but after years of verbal abuse from her parents, she wasn’t able to see how amazing she was, Hudson was able to help her on her self worth journey just making him even more swoon worthy. Oh and there was PLENTY of spice!
The Promises We Break is narrated in duet by Branden Davis-Butler and Grayson Owens. Branden was perfect as Ember, she voiced Ember’s timidness so well, but as Ember grew more confident and got comfortable voicing what she wanted, Branden also captured that character growth flawlessly. Grayson was fantastic as Hudson, he captured Hudson’s charming personality perfectly.
This was my second book by Berlin Wick and I am hooked! I was captivated with this story from the first chapter. I loved Hudson when he was introduced in The Secrets We Hide, so I was eager to get to his story. Hudson is the ultimate book boyfriend, he falls first and hard, he is determined to show Ember her worth and he is devoted to her happiness. Ember was fierce and independent but after years of verbal abuse from her parents, she wasn’t able to see how amazing she was, Hudson was able to help her on her self worth journey just making him even more swoon worthy. Oh and there was PLENTY of spice!
The Promises We Break is narrated in duet by Branden Davis-Butler and Grayson Owens. Branden was perfect as Ember, she voiced Ember’s timidness so well, but as Ember grew more confident and got comfortable voicing what she wanted, Branden also captured that character growth flawlessly. Grayson was fantastic as Hudson, he captured Hudson’s charming personality perfectly.
September 5, 2024
First off, I have to say this book quickly became one of my favorites! This was my first read by Berlin, and it certainly did not disappoint. I’d rate it a solid 5/5 ⭐️ and a spicy 4/5 🌶️.
Hudson and Ember cross paths on a plane while headed to Las Vegas for their friends' bachelor and bachelorette parties. Little do they know, their night takes an unexpected turn when they run into each other at the same club, leading to a drunken, accidental marriage. Upon returning home, fate brings them together again in Seattle, where Hudson has just landed a new baseball job and Ember has secured a new position as well.
What starts as an accidental marriage soon evolves into a marriage of convenience. Hudson’s team wants to protect his image, while Ember seeks to avoid her parents' pressure to settle down. Moving into Hudson’s one-bedroom apartment introduces the classic "one bed" trope, filled with plenty of spice. The steamy scenes are definitely among my favorites!
A spicy teaser expert: "Sprad your legs."
"Already w3t for me, my wife?"
"Oh, God."
"What did you say?"
"Hudson. Hudson."
"Good girl."
As I read through their journey, I couldn’t help but fall in love with both characters. I appreciated how they’ve each faced challenges and, through their relationship, find a way to overcome them together.
Hudson and Ember cross paths on a plane while headed to Las Vegas for their friends' bachelor and bachelorette parties. Little do they know, their night takes an unexpected turn when they run into each other at the same club, leading to a drunken, accidental marriage. Upon returning home, fate brings them together again in Seattle, where Hudson has just landed a new baseball job and Ember has secured a new position as well.
What starts as an accidental marriage soon evolves into a marriage of convenience. Hudson’s team wants to protect his image, while Ember seeks to avoid her parents' pressure to settle down. Moving into Hudson’s one-bedroom apartment introduces the classic "one bed" trope, filled with plenty of spice. The steamy scenes are definitely among my favorites!
A spicy teaser expert: "Sprad your legs."
"Already w3t for me, my wife?"
"Oh, God."
"What did you say?"
"Hudson. Hudson."
"Good girl."
As I read through their journey, I couldn’t help but fall in love with both characters. I appreciated how they’ve each faced challenges and, through their relationship, find a way to overcome them together.
August 28, 2024
ARC Review: 4.5 ⭐
Suppose you love a man who falls first and hard; is this hot ball player who wears his heart on his sleeve, it's Hudson. He was gorgeous in this book and I loved his dynamics. He's in the wrong place at the right time and his luck changes when he meets a redhead that gives him more than he deserves.
I loved Ember in this book. She was gorgeous, ambitious and a strong FMC. Hudson was able to make her see her worth with his tender ways and a 'business agreement' that they both find themselves in. With a bit of encouragement, Ember lights up and finds that she can have it all: fun, play, and have a husband with a career. Together they are an amazing match that can't keep their hands off each other. Their spice together is delicious and well played out.
Shared POV; starts in Vegas and ends in Seattle. If you love sex clubs, experimental sex play, hot ball players and a strong FMC, you will love this book. Berlin is new in her writing career and I'm super proud of her books thus far. While this book wasn't perfect for me, it was still amazing and I enjoyed reading the heck out of it. Be sure to look her up and read book one, where Jake (the husband) likes to watch.
Suppose you love a man who falls first and hard; is this hot ball player who wears his heart on his sleeve, it's Hudson. He was gorgeous in this book and I loved his dynamics. He's in the wrong place at the right time and his luck changes when he meets a redhead that gives him more than he deserves.
I loved Ember in this book. She was gorgeous, ambitious and a strong FMC. Hudson was able to make her see her worth with his tender ways and a 'business agreement' that they both find themselves in. With a bit of encouragement, Ember lights up and finds that she can have it all: fun, play, and have a husband with a career. Together they are an amazing match that can't keep their hands off each other. Their spice together is delicious and well played out.
Shared POV; starts in Vegas and ends in Seattle. If you love sex clubs, experimental sex play, hot ball players and a strong FMC, you will love this book. Berlin is new in her writing career and I'm super proud of her books thus far. While this book wasn't perfect for me, it was still amazing and I enjoyed reading the heck out of it. Be sure to look her up and read book one, where Jake (the husband) likes to watch.
August 27, 2024
If you want a book with lots of spice and found family vibes...look no further. I laughed, I cried, I almost yelled at my kindle at my work desk while reading this book and I loved the whole journey. I was so invested in the characters and wanted to be a friend that told them to stop the nonsense. Hudson is such a caring soul and Ember is a force and she has no idea just how much she has to offer others. We got to see more of the main characters from the first book in this world, the secrets we hide, which is also another great book you should add to your TBR. Cruz will forever be a fave character of mine even if he's not the main character in either book... He almost pushes himself forward to become the main character which is consistent with his personality. I really enjoyed reading this book and have and still will recommend people to read it!
September 13, 2024
If you enjoy spicy books, then this series is a must-read! This book introduces new characters, but also references the MCs from the first in the series. Ember is a feisty redhead who meets Hudson on a plane. When their lives cross paths again, while under the influence, they spontaneously decide to get married. The question is, should they get their marriage annulled? Or could the marriage benefit them both and be a good thing?
This book has all the spice! If you enjoy spice, it will not let you down! However, I love that this series also has an amazing storyline. It keeps you captivated and you feel bonded to the characters. This series is high on my fav spicy reads. Like up there with the Things We never Got Over series by Lucy Score favourite level. So, if those types of books are your thing, please give these ones a try!
This book has all the spice! If you enjoy spice, it will not let you down! However, I love that this series also has an amazing storyline. It keeps you captivated and you feel bonded to the characters. This series is high on my fav spicy reads. Like up there with the Things We never Got Over series by Lucy Score favourite level. So, if those types of books are your thing, please give these ones a try!
October 2, 2025
This book was such a ride in the best way. I loved Ember and Hudson from the moment they met on that plane, and the whole "oops, we accidentally got married in Vegas" setup was just so much fun. What I didn’t expect was how much heart and depth the story had once their fake, turned real, marriage started to play out. The chemistry between them was off the charts, but what really hooked me was how believable their emotional journeys were. Ember is strong and independent but so guarded, and watching her learn to open up and trust was just as satisfying as the steamy moments. Hudson, meanwhile, had me swooning. He's sweet, loyal, such a romantic and absolutely all in from the start, but still layered with his own struggles and vulnerabilities.
The best part of the book was when she had a big project that he helped her with!! (No spoilers). The playfulness between them was epic!
The romance hit that perfect balance of spicy and heartfelt, and it never felt like one overshadowed the other. I laughed, I swooned, I got frustrated with them (in the best way), and I couldn't put it down. Honestly, this book is everything I love about romance: messy, hopeful, sexy, and full of characters you root for until the very end.
The best part of the book was when she had a big project that he helped her with!! (No spoilers). The playfulness between them was epic!
The romance hit that perfect balance of spicy and heartfelt, and it never felt like one overshadowed the other. I laughed, I swooned, I got frustrated with them (in the best way), and I couldn't put it down. Honestly, this book is everything I love about romance: messy, hopeful, sexy, and full of characters you root for until the very end.
August 27, 2024
Berlin is easily one of my favorite authors I've read for this year. This book is soo good. It's one of those books you pick up and literally have to force yourself to put down if you just dont finish it all at once, lol. Ember is so lovable and relateable, and I knew i was going to love Hudson in book 1. He did not disappoint one bit. These two together are perfect. I'm obsessed. and the spice mind-blowing. **We love a woman in control**. Overall, I obviously loved this book it's the perfect amount of plot, spice, feels, and a little twist.. super excited for what's next♡
*If you haven't read book 1, the Secrets We Hide, you're missing out. Do so immediately. * lol
I loved seeing snippets of Elena, Jake, and Christian. Plus, Cruz is still bestie ♡
*If you haven't read book 1, the Secrets We Hide, you're missing out. Do so immediately. * lol
I loved seeing snippets of Elena, Jake, and Christian. Plus, Cruz is still bestie ♡
September 5, 2024
I loved this book from start to finish.
First I have to say I loved seeing Elena, Christian, and Jake in this. It honestly made me want to reread their story. I adored Ember and Hudson. They had chemistry from the very beginning, and then chapter 7 or 8 was just 🔥. When they added "lessons" to their little arrangement, I was all for it. Oooh the spice in this was too good!!! The praise?? Wick really did her thing with this one. Hudson is a MAN! I want a Hudson. And sweet Ember, I felt like I related to her so much while reading the story. It was wonderful seeing the growth between both characters throughout the book and I can't wait to read more from Berlin Wick!
First I have to say I loved seeing Elena, Christian, and Jake in this. It honestly made me want to reread their story. I adored Ember and Hudson. They had chemistry from the very beginning, and then chapter 7 or 8 was just 🔥. When they added "lessons" to their little arrangement, I was all for it. Oooh the spice in this was too good!!! The praise?? Wick really did her thing with this one. Hudson is a MAN! I want a Hudson. And sweet Ember, I felt like I related to her so much while reading the story. It was wonderful seeing the growth between both characters throughout the book and I can't wait to read more from Berlin Wick!
September 10, 2024
Sweet, spicy and unique!
I absolutely loved Hudson and Ember! Their story was a ton of fun to read and I really enjoyed all the unique parts to their story! There was some elements that were familiar due to Hudson being a baseball player, but Ember’s job and the project she started was very unique and I loved watching it play out! This story swung me all over the place with feelings and I’m so happy to have read it.
Definitely recommend this one and I can’t wait for the next book.
I absolutely loved Hudson and Ember! Their story was a ton of fun to read and I really enjoyed all the unique parts to their story! There was some elements that were familiar due to Hudson being a baseball player, but Ember’s job and the project she started was very unique and I loved watching it play out! This story swung me all over the place with feelings and I’m so happy to have read it.
Definitely recommend this one and I can’t wait for the next book.
October 15, 2024
"Hope destroys the strongest men."
The writing in this book was amazing! Yes, it's super spicy, but the storyline and characters were so good! All main and side characters had such rich backstories and complex thoughts and feelings which often gets missed in romance books. And even though it was an insta-love trope, and a marriage of convenience (both tropes I'm not usually a fan of), the storyline never felt far fetched. I could read about Ember and Hudson forever. Honestly, I could not put this book down. It has inspired me to read more of Berlin Wick's work.
The writing in this book was amazing! Yes, it's super spicy, but the storyline and characters were so good! All main and side characters had such rich backstories and complex thoughts and feelings which often gets missed in romance books. And even though it was an insta-love trope, and a marriage of convenience (both tropes I'm not usually a fan of), the storyline never felt far fetched. I could read about Ember and Hudson forever. Honestly, I could not put this book down. It has inspired me to read more of Berlin Wick's work.
December 16, 2025
LOVED IT!!!! 4,5 ⭐
✓ cute first meet
✓ Vegas Wedding
✓ "Fake" relationship
✓ She is my wife!
,well it was everything I needed!!!
But too much 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ for me.
Overall it was a cute at first lmao, funny, mind-blowing story hahahaha
Umm the spicy lessons 🤭
I enjoyed it a lot and Cruz omg I loved him 😌
"Meeting her on the plane, then running into her at the strip club. One in a million.
Us separately moving to the same city after a drunken marriage in Vegas. One in a trillion.
I just hope fate isn’t a tease. Because I want her. I want all of her."
✓ cute first meet
✓ Vegas Wedding
✓ "Fake" relationship
✓ She is my wife!
,well it was everything I needed!!!
But too much 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ for me.
Overall it was a cute at first lmao, funny, mind-blowing story hahahaha
Umm the spicy lessons 🤭
I enjoyed it a lot and Cruz omg I loved him 😌
"Meeting her on the plane, then running into her at the strip club. One in a million.
Us separately moving to the same city after a drunken marriage in Vegas. One in a trillion.
I just hope fate isn’t a tease. Because I want her. I want all of her."
August 25, 2024
I am utterly obsessed with Hudson Byrnes and I am not sorry about it 😂😮💨
⭐️ 5 ⭐️
Hudson & Ember… the passion, the emotion, the banter, the INFERNO of these two (pun intended 😉🔥) was absolute perfection 🫶🏼
Chapter 36 had me DMing Berlin because oh👏🏼my👏🏼lanta👏🏼
💍 Vegas wedding turned marriage of convenience
💍 baseball MMC
💍 strong independent FMC
💍 kink exploration
💍 he falls first & hard
I read book one of this series because of one quote off tiktok, and book two was just as amazing 😍 And it was so fun to catch up with some of the same characters!
❗️Mark your calendars for Sept 5❗️And in the meantime, read book 1, The Secrets We Hide 🤭
⭐️ 5 ⭐️
Hudson & Ember… the passion, the emotion, the banter, the INFERNO of these two (pun intended 😉🔥) was absolute perfection 🫶🏼
Chapter 36 had me DMing Berlin because oh👏🏼my👏🏼lanta👏🏼
💍 Vegas wedding turned marriage of convenience
💍 baseball MMC
💍 strong independent FMC
💍 kink exploration
💍 he falls first & hard
I read book one of this series because of one quote off tiktok, and book two was just as amazing 😍 And it was so fun to catch up with some of the same characters!
❗️Mark your calendars for Sept 5❗️And in the meantime, read book 1, The Secrets We Hide 🤭
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