What do you think?
Rate this book
Merged #2
A Forgotten Promise
In the headlines, he’s my husband. In private, he’s my nemesis.
I used to have it all: the fame, the fortune, the freedom. Until it all came crashing down.
Betrayed by those I trusted and burned out, I return to New York, hoping for a fresh start. My trust fund will help me with that. One issue: I need to marry to access it.
Enter Cormac Quinn. A powerful billionaire. My brother’s enemy. A man as ruthless as he’s gorgeous.
Imagine my disdain when I walk blindly into a meeting to arrange my fake marriage and the devil himself stares at me.
His intense gaze holds mine. That look has women worshiping at his feet. Well, I’m not one of them.
I don’t want his eyes on me. I don’t want his money. I don’t want his attention. I only need him to gain my financial freedom.
And the minute I’ll have it, I’m done with this (in)convenient marriage.
I would only pose as his wife for a few months. I can even have fun with it. At his expense.
But the man is set on owning me, on controlling me.
Everybody is just a pawn in Cormac Quinn’s game. And I have just become one.
I used to have it all: the fame, the fortune, the freedom. Until it all came crashing down.
Betrayed by those I trusted and burned out, I return to New York, hoping for a fresh start. My trust fund will help me with that. One issue: I need to marry to access it.
Enter Cormac Quinn. A powerful billionaire. My brother’s enemy. A man as ruthless as he’s gorgeous.
Imagine my disdain when I walk blindly into a meeting to arrange my fake marriage and the devil himself stares at me.
His intense gaze holds mine. That look has women worshiping at his feet. Well, I’m not one of them.
I don’t want his eyes on me. I don’t want his money. I don’t want his attention. I only need him to gain my financial freedom.
And the minute I’ll have it, I’m done with this (in)convenient marriage.
I would only pose as his wife for a few months. I can even have fun with it. At his expense.
But the man is set on owning me, on controlling me.
Everybody is just a pawn in Cormac Quinn’s game. And I have just become one.
556 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2025
194 people are currently reading
540 people want to read
About the author
Maxine Henri
25 books116 followersMaxine Henri is a contemporary romance author who infuses her stories with steamy passion and complex characters. When she's not crafting stories that will have you swooning, she can usually be found sipping on a cup of black tea while reading a good book or traveling to new destinations.
Maxine believes that stories matter. They facilitate emotional journeys, inspire and entertain. And when it comes to books and fiction, stories are a great escape and probably the most beneficial addiction on this planet.
Her billionaire romances are the perfect escape, offering a taste of luxury and adventure. Maxine introduces heroes who may have a dark past, but are always balanced by a lighter side. And her leading ladies? They're strong, independent women who may be a little broken, but always find their way to love.
Maxine believes that stories matter. They facilitate emotional journeys, inspire and entertain. And when it comes to books and fiction, stories are a great escape and probably the most beneficial addiction on this planet.
Her billionaire romances are the perfect escape, offering a taste of luxury and adventure. Maxine introduces heroes who may have a dark past, but are always balanced by a lighter side. And her leading ladies? They're strong, independent women who may be a little broken, but always find their way to love.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
April 1, 2025
4.25 stars! Non-spoiler ARC review!
After Saar's world comes crashing down through betrayal, Saar is left with no choice. She must access her trust fund which she can only receive if she's married. Enter Cormac Quinn, a powerful billionaire and the enemy of her brother. Needing to fix up his image for a new business deal, him and Saar enter into a fake marriage. However, while to the world they seem happy-behind closed doors they are filled with hatred for the other.
This book was so good! I was not sure what to expect because I have never read a book by Maxine Henri before, but she delivered! The angst, the banter, this book had it all! I loved the plot of this book and that as the book progressed, Saar and Cormac had a lot more depth to them than expected. I also was very intrigued by the side characters and may go back to read book 1! Overall it was a fun read that I would recommend to anyone that loves a marriage of convenience story!
After Saar's world comes crashing down through betrayal, Saar is left with no choice. She must access her trust fund which she can only receive if she's married. Enter Cormac Quinn, a powerful billionaire and the enemy of her brother. Needing to fix up his image for a new business deal, him and Saar enter into a fake marriage. However, while to the world they seem happy-behind closed doors they are filled with hatred for the other.
This book was so good! I was not sure what to expect because I have never read a book by Maxine Henri before, but she delivered! The angst, the banter, this book had it all! I loved the plot of this book and that as the book progressed, Saar and Cormac had a lot more depth to them than expected. I also was very intrigued by the side characters and may go back to read book 1! Overall it was a fun read that I would recommend to anyone that loves a marriage of convenience story!
March 15, 2025
IF you want a slow burn, angst, enemies to lovers read, then this one is for you. This was recommended to me not only by a friend but received an email by Hambright PR to get an advance copy.
We are introduced to Saar and Corm on the beginning of the book as teenagers and move toward adulthood. She is a famous model that happens to be going through a rough patch and needs a husband so that she can get access to her trust fund. Carm has his own predicament too. Being the bad boy he is needs to paint a picture that he has grown up and can be the image of Merged. Both characters have to navigate living together and providing a picture-perfect couple while they can't stand each other.
These characters are also going through some tough emotional healing because of their families and I think the author did a wonderful job providing the mental aspect of it.
Overall, this book is made for readers that enjoy slow burn and angst. It was not my cup of tea BUT it kept me wanting to know what happens to these characters while introduced to others. I will continue reading the series as the other books come out.
Thank you to Hambright PR and Maxine Henri for an advanced copy of this book.
We are introduced to Saar and Corm on the beginning of the book as teenagers and move toward adulthood. She is a famous model that happens to be going through a rough patch and needs a husband so that she can get access to her trust fund. Carm has his own predicament too. Being the bad boy he is needs to paint a picture that he has grown up and can be the image of Merged. Both characters have to navigate living together and providing a picture-perfect couple while they can't stand each other.
These characters are also going through some tough emotional healing because of their families and I think the author did a wonderful job providing the mental aspect of it.
Overall, this book is made for readers that enjoy slow burn and angst. It was not my cup of tea BUT it kept me wanting to know what happens to these characters while introduced to others. I will continue reading the series as the other books come out.
Thank you to Hambright PR and Maxine Henri for an advanced copy of this book.
March 28, 2025
Could not see how they loved each other. They fuck too soon, she gives in just like that even though he is an ass. Rushed ending, no closure on Vito (he stole thousand if not millions as she is a supermodel) or her parents.
March 18, 2025
I loved this book. So much I 10/10 recommend.
March 22, 2025
A Forgotten Promise is the second book in the Merged series, and my second read of Maxine Henri’s. While, I was automatically drawn to Saar and Corm’s story, I felt as tho their chemistry was lacking. I love their individual characters but felt as though there was no real connection towards one another and they brought out the worst in each other. In my opinion, it felt like their story was rushed (in a way), and that there was too many twist thrown into the mix, not giving the story time to develop from one turn of events to the other. (If that makes sense, I’d say more but I would end up spoiling it for others.)
However, with that being said, once I started A Forgotten Promise I could not put it down. I was, totally enthralled with Saar and Corm’s story. (I wanted to see how their story played out.) If you are in the mood for a slow burn, enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, I recommend you looking into this one. I did, find it to be an enjoyable read and look forward to continuing the series.
However, with that being said, once I started A Forgotten Promise I could not put it down. I was, totally enthralled with Saar and Corm’s story. (I wanted to see how their story played out.) If you are in the mood for a slow burn, enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, I recommend you looking into this one. I did, find it to be an enjoyable read and look forward to continuing the series.
April 10, 2025
Can’t believe this book has such high ratings. The FMC is a smart cookie but so dumb most of the times and naive, despite her experience in life and in an industry as complex as fashion. Don’t get me started on the shooting provoking her amnesia at 75 % of the book : I get that she doesn’t remember the MMC but come on, she seems like a whole different person.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2025
Thank you @maxinehenriromance and @hambright_pr for the free digital arc 💖.
✨What it is about:
Saar, a well known model has run into money trouble just when she announces to her manager she wants to retire. She has a trust fund she can rely on, but in order to get access to it, she needs to get married first. Enter Cormac, a powerful billionaire whom she’s been set up to meet, so she can attempt a chance at a fake marriage, and get her trust settled. Cormac has a history with Saar, but neither of them can fathom what’s in store for them together.✨
💭My thoughts:
This is book two of the Merged series, and it was just as good as the first book, A Temporary Forever (check out my review of that one in one of my previous posts). You don’t need to read the first book to enjoy this second one, as this can be easily read as a standalone, but I recommend you do read the first one just for fun! This story had a great mix of some of my favorite tropes, and had more depth and layers than I expected, which I enjoyed. It’s not just a simple marriage of convenience, there’s a lot more brewing beneath the surface, which I always love to see. Saar and Cormac’s banter was great, I loved the pranks pulled, and I’m a sucker for an overprotective man . It was interesting to see Saar’s back story and all she had to overcome, as well as Cormac’s sad family issues. I also really enjoyed getting to see characters from the previous book like Celeste for example, pop in here and there. It’s always so fun to see what characters from an another book are doing in the midst of a new storyline, and see how their story has changed, or developed. Saar and Cormac’s story, much like Celeste and Caleb’s story was a lot more than just their developing romance, and Henri does a wonderful job with the character arcs of each. Well done! 👏
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read if you like:
💍 Marriage of convenience 💍Enemies to lovers 💍Slow burn 💍Grumpy billionaire 💍Over the top protective hero 💍He falls first 💍Brother’s adversary 💍My wife 💍Angst and banter
⚠️CW: Family trauma/dysfunction, parental neglect, grief, mental health struggles, explicit sexual content.
✨What it is about:
Saar, a well known model has run into money trouble just when she announces to her manager she wants to retire. She has a trust fund she can rely on, but in order to get access to it, she needs to get married first. Enter Cormac, a powerful billionaire whom she’s been set up to meet, so she can attempt a chance at a fake marriage, and get her trust settled. Cormac has a history with Saar, but neither of them can fathom what’s in store for them together.✨
💭My thoughts:
This is book two of the Merged series, and it was just as good as the first book, A Temporary Forever (check out my review of that one in one of my previous posts). You don’t need to read the first book to enjoy this second one, as this can be easily read as a standalone, but I recommend you do read the first one just for fun! This story had a great mix of some of my favorite tropes, and had more depth and layers than I expected, which I enjoyed. It’s not just a simple marriage of convenience, there’s a lot more brewing beneath the surface, which I always love to see. Saar and Cormac’s banter was great, I loved the pranks pulled, and I’m a sucker for an overprotective man . It was interesting to see Saar’s back story and all she had to overcome, as well as Cormac’s sad family issues. I also really enjoyed getting to see characters from the previous book like Celeste for example, pop in here and there. It’s always so fun to see what characters from an another book are doing in the midst of a new storyline, and see how their story has changed, or developed. Saar and Cormac’s story, much like Celeste and Caleb’s story was a lot more than just their developing romance, and Henri does a wonderful job with the character arcs of each. Well done! 👏
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read if you like:
💍 Marriage of convenience 💍Enemies to lovers 💍Slow burn 💍Grumpy billionaire 💍Over the top protective hero 💍He falls first 💍Brother’s adversary 💍My wife 💍Angst and banter
⚠️CW: Family trauma/dysfunction, parental neglect, grief, mental health struggles, explicit sexual content.
March 14, 2025
Thank you to Hambright PR for an advanced copy of this book.
Actual rating 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
I was really excited to dive back into this series, so I was really happy when this book hit my Kindle. I loved book 1, so I was interested in how book 2 was going to look. There were definitely a lot of good parts of this book, but a few things just missed the mark for me. This book is marketed as a stand-alone, but I think it may be a little hard to follow without reading book one. There are a lot of secondary characters that had their full introductions in book 1, and without reading that previously, it could get a little confusing.
Saar is dealing with a really crappy situation and finds herself in need of a husband to fulfil the criteria to access her trust fund. I understand her reluctance to accept money from her brothers but it was also a little frustrating as if it bothered her that much she could have asked for a loan of the money instead which would have made more sense to me. It would have solved a lot of her problems and would have helped build up her self-esteem as she got back on her feet.
Cormac is a total jerk at the start of the story, but her thankfully revealed that he's not a total jerk when he started having real, tender moments with Saar. Seeing that human side of him made him much more likeable.
As for Saar and Cormac together, I'm happy they got together, but it was a hell of a bumpy ride. I still don't fully understand the reason why they hated each other as much as they did at the start. I know that Cormac and Saar's brother don't get along, but I still don't get the levels of hate they had for each other. It felt a little too forced, in my opinion.
Overall, I did enjoy the story, and I will be continuing the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Actual rating 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
I was really excited to dive back into this series, so I was really happy when this book hit my Kindle. I loved book 1, so I was interested in how book 2 was going to look. There were definitely a lot of good parts of this book, but a few things just missed the mark for me. This book is marketed as a stand-alone, but I think it may be a little hard to follow without reading book one. There are a lot of secondary characters that had their full introductions in book 1, and without reading that previously, it could get a little confusing.
Saar is dealing with a really crappy situation and finds herself in need of a husband to fulfil the criteria to access her trust fund. I understand her reluctance to accept money from her brothers but it was also a little frustrating as if it bothered her that much she could have asked for a loan of the money instead which would have made more sense to me. It would have solved a lot of her problems and would have helped build up her self-esteem as she got back on her feet.
Cormac is a total jerk at the start of the story, but her thankfully revealed that he's not a total jerk when he started having real, tender moments with Saar. Seeing that human side of him made him much more likeable.
As for Saar and Cormac together, I'm happy they got together, but it was a hell of a bumpy ride. I still don't fully understand the reason why they hated each other as much as they did at the start. I know that Cormac and Saar's brother don't get along, but I still don't get the levels of hate they had for each other. It felt a little too forced, in my opinion.
Overall, I did enjoy the story, and I will be continuing the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 22, 2025
The way the author made me HATE the male main character for a good chunk of the book, only to have me fall in love with him by the end—ugh, I was a goner.
Saar is a supermodel by trade, but she's considering retirement due to burnout. Her situation worsens when she discovers that someone has been stealing her money and embezzling her funds, leaving her in massive debt and owing taxes in several countries. To regain her financial footing, she needs to find someone to marry so she can access her trust fund. Cormac is a ruthless billionaire with a bad track record, and he is also looking for a partner to help him clean up his act (or at least make it appear that way). The two nemeses agree to enter a marriage of convenience so that both can get what they want.
The tension was so HOT.
I couldn't get enough of the back-and-forth between them, and their constant attempts to outdo each other. It was hilarious. Saar had an innocent crush on Cormac in high school, and I loved how she stood up for herself against his constant bullying, giving it back to him tenfold.
Although Corm was a scumbag majority of the time, he was also really caring towards her. Saar’s modeling career really took a toll on her health, so I loved all the little sweet gestures he did for her (while still plotting on ways to one-up her).
Tropes:
* Billionaire Romance💰
* Marriage of Convenience 💍
* Enemies to Lovers
* Slow Burn
* Grumpy Billionaire Tycoon x Retired Supermodel
* He Falls First
* Angst and Banter
Thank you to author and HamBright PR for an ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.
Saar is a supermodel by trade, but she's considering retirement due to burnout. Her situation worsens when she discovers that someone has been stealing her money and embezzling her funds, leaving her in massive debt and owing taxes in several countries. To regain her financial footing, she needs to find someone to marry so she can access her trust fund. Cormac is a ruthless billionaire with a bad track record, and he is also looking for a partner to help him clean up his act (or at least make it appear that way). The two nemeses agree to enter a marriage of convenience so that both can get what they want.
The tension was so HOT.
I couldn't get enough of the back-and-forth between them, and their constant attempts to outdo each other. It was hilarious. Saar had an innocent crush on Cormac in high school, and I loved how she stood up for herself against his constant bullying, giving it back to him tenfold.
Although Corm was a scumbag majority of the time, he was also really caring towards her. Saar’s modeling career really took a toll on her health, so I loved all the little sweet gestures he did for her (while still plotting on ways to one-up her).
Tropes:
* Billionaire Romance💰
* Marriage of Convenience 💍
* Enemies to Lovers
* Slow Burn
* Grumpy Billionaire Tycoon x Retired Supermodel
* He Falls First
* Angst and Banter
Thank you to author and HamBright PR for an ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.
March 16, 2025
A Forgotten Promise by @maxinehenriromance
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We start with meeting Saar, a woman trying to rebuild her life after losing everything. She’s got one thing left to claim, her trust fund, but there’s a catch: she needs to marry to access it.
Enter Cormac Quinn, the brooding, ruthless billionaire who also happens to be her brother’s enemy. The chemistry between them is INTENSE, and from the very first moment they lock eyes, I’m hooked. He’s got all the power and charm, but Saar? She’s NOT having it. Her fierce independence is chef's kiss. I loved how she stood up for herself, even when caught in this marriage of convenience with the one man who makes her heart race.
The banter between them? Off. The. Charts. 😏 The tension builds so beautifully as they try to fight their growing attraction, and when they finally give in? The payoff is EVERYTHING.
What I loved the most was the balance between the sizzling romance and Saar’s personal growth. Even though she’s stuck in this situation, she never loses herself. And Cormac? His protective side? Ugh, just YES. He's complex, and while he's got that possessive streak, you can’t help but fall for him too.
If you're a fan of enemies-to-lovers, marriage of convenience, and a slow-burn romance romance your next read is right here!!
Looking forward to my upcoming post I have something exciting to announce, thank you @hambright_pr for my
e copy! 💚
#aforgottenpromise #maxinehenri #enimestolovers #marriageofconvenience #billionairromance #slowburn #romancebook #bookreview #bookrec #hambrightpr
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We start with meeting Saar, a woman trying to rebuild her life after losing everything. She’s got one thing left to claim, her trust fund, but there’s a catch: she needs to marry to access it.
Enter Cormac Quinn, the brooding, ruthless billionaire who also happens to be her brother’s enemy. The chemistry between them is INTENSE, and from the very first moment they lock eyes, I’m hooked. He’s got all the power and charm, but Saar? She’s NOT having it. Her fierce independence is chef's kiss. I loved how she stood up for herself, even when caught in this marriage of convenience with the one man who makes her heart race.
The banter between them? Off. The. Charts. 😏 The tension builds so beautifully as they try to fight their growing attraction, and when they finally give in? The payoff is EVERYTHING.
What I loved the most was the balance between the sizzling romance and Saar’s personal growth. Even though she’s stuck in this situation, she never loses herself. And Cormac? His protective side? Ugh, just YES. He's complex, and while he's got that possessive streak, you can’t help but fall for him too.
If you're a fan of enemies-to-lovers, marriage of convenience, and a slow-burn romance romance your next read is right here!!
Looking forward to my upcoming post I have something exciting to announce, thank you @hambright_pr for my
e copy! 💚
#aforgottenpromise #maxinehenri #enimestolovers #marriageofconvenience #billionairromance #slowburn #romancebook #bookreview #bookrec #hambrightpr
March 19, 2025
4.5 stars
Merged Book 2, A Forgotten Promise, started really slow for me. It took about 150 pages for me to get into Saar and Cormac’s story, but once they jumped, I was ready to as well.
Saar is a successful model but is looking to retire. Unfortunately, her plan is completely derailed when it becomes clear that her accountant has embezzled her funds. Cue her interest in accessing her trust fund, but with the classic caveat that she has to be married before she can get the dough. Cormac needs some PR CPR and a new partner is exactly what his image needs to show he is a **serious professional.** When these two enemies combine forces to help each other out, the insults and sparks fly. Eventually, they have to decide if they can set aside their history to explore the attraction neither of them can deny.
So why did I like this one more than the first book? That’s a hard question, honestly. I think perhaps it’s because I really didn’t enjoy the first part, so to have it redeem itself with interesting plot, great character growth, and sizzling romance definitely helped. I was well on my way to giving this five stars and just saying I didn’t like the beginning because I didn’t like Corm (which didn’t really change by the end of the book, in all honesty), but then the last 50 pages happened. If you’ve read this, you know EXACTLY what I mean. It lost the book a half-star from me, but would I recommend this still? You better believe it. Just know that the ending may or may not throw you before you start.
Merged Book 2, A Forgotten Promise, started really slow for me. It took about 150 pages for me to get into Saar and Cormac’s story, but once they jumped, I was ready to as well.
Saar is a successful model but is looking to retire. Unfortunately, her plan is completely derailed when it becomes clear that her accountant has embezzled her funds. Cue her interest in accessing her trust fund, but with the classic caveat that she has to be married before she can get the dough. Cormac needs some PR CPR and a new partner is exactly what his image needs to show he is a **serious professional.** When these two enemies combine forces to help each other out, the insults and sparks fly. Eventually, they have to decide if they can set aside their history to explore the attraction neither of them can deny.
So why did I like this one more than the first book? That’s a hard question, honestly. I think perhaps it’s because I really didn’t enjoy the first part, so to have it redeem itself with interesting plot, great character growth, and sizzling romance definitely helped. I was well on my way to giving this five stars and just saying I didn’t like the beginning because I didn’t like Corm (which didn’t really change by the end of the book, in all honesty), but then the last 50 pages happened. If you’ve read this, you know EXACTLY what I mean. It lost the book a half-star from me, but would I recommend this still? You better believe it. Just know that the ending may or may not throw you before you start.
March 21, 2025
Saar used to have it all, but after losing everything, she’s desperate for a fresh start. There’s just one problem: the only way to access her trust fund is through marriage. Enter Cormac Quinn—powerful, brooding, and her brother’s enemy. Not exactly husband material, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
From their first encounter, the chemistry between Saar and Cormac is electric. She’s stubborn, fierce, and refuses to let him intimidate her, while he’s all control and confidence. Their banter? Top tier. The push and pull? Off the charts. And when their fake marriage starts feeling a little too real? Yeah, I was hooked.
One of my favorite things about this book is how well it balances the slow-burn romance with Saar’s personal growth. She’s not just surviving—she’s reclaiming her life, and watching her stand her ground against Cormac made me love her even more. And Cormac? He might be all sharp edges, but the way he protects her, makes sure she eats, and slowly lets her in? Perfection.
If you’re into enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and the he falls first trope, you’re going to love this one. Maxine Henri nails the tension, the emotional depth, and the kind of romance that keeps you turning pages late into the night.
᪥ Marriage Of Convenience
᪥ Enemies To Lovers
᪥ Slow Burn
᪥ Grumpy Billionaire
᪥ OTT Protective Hero
᪥ He Falls First
᪥ Brothers’s Adversary
From their first encounter, the chemistry between Saar and Cormac is electric. She’s stubborn, fierce, and refuses to let him intimidate her, while he’s all control and confidence. Their banter? Top tier. The push and pull? Off the charts. And when their fake marriage starts feeling a little too real? Yeah, I was hooked.
One of my favorite things about this book is how well it balances the slow-burn romance with Saar’s personal growth. She’s not just surviving—she’s reclaiming her life, and watching her stand her ground against Cormac made me love her even more. And Cormac? He might be all sharp edges, but the way he protects her, makes sure she eats, and slowly lets her in? Perfection.
If you’re into enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and the he falls first trope, you’re going to love this one. Maxine Henri nails the tension, the emotional depth, and the kind of romance that keeps you turning pages late into the night.
᪥ Marriage Of Convenience
᪥ Enemies To Lovers
᪥ Slow Burn
᪥ Grumpy Billionaire
᪥ OTT Protective Hero
᪥ He Falls First
᪥ Brothers’s Adversary
March 17, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Cormac & Saar
Maxine omg you did it again!!!! Another Mmc that I fell in love with and had me giddy and kicking my feet.
Saar is an ex model that needs to retire she’s done with the fast paced, not eating well and not sleeping. When she talks to her manager he gives her the devastating news that her accountant embezzled her money. Unless she marries a to get her trust fund, to help pay off her debts.
Cormac is a billionaire that lost his father and he’s been photographed in his wild ways. But he’s about to lose a big deal if he doesn’t straighten up and as the person suggests get married.
So in the twist of the story her manager and his publicist get Corm and Saar to marry. Only problem is Saar can’t stand Corm she thinks he’s a jerk and can’t stand him. Corm on the other hand has been a little obsessed over Saar. Can these two make their marriage work?
I loved every minute of this book the words the details every page was a joy and sad knowing it was going to end. I laughed, cried, laughed some more and fell in love with Corm and Saar.
I can’t wait for the next book.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Cormac & Saar
Maxine omg you did it again!!!! Another Mmc that I fell in love with and had me giddy and kicking my feet.
Saar is an ex model that needs to retire she’s done with the fast paced, not eating well and not sleeping. When she talks to her manager he gives her the devastating news that her accountant embezzled her money. Unless she marries a to get her trust fund, to help pay off her debts.
Cormac is a billionaire that lost his father and he’s been photographed in his wild ways. But he’s about to lose a big deal if he doesn’t straighten up and as the person suggests get married.
So in the twist of the story her manager and his publicist get Corm and Saar to marry. Only problem is Saar can’t stand Corm she thinks he’s a jerk and can’t stand him. Corm on the other hand has been a little obsessed over Saar. Can these two make their marriage work?
I loved every minute of this book the words the details every page was a joy and sad knowing it was going to end. I laughed, cried, laughed some more and fell in love with Corm and Saar.
I can’t wait for the next book.
March 26, 2025
If someone would’ve asked me which character I found the most relatable out of all the books I’ve read in my life, I would without a doubt say that Saar was that for me. And I love love love being able to relate to the main characters. Her actions and preferences were so close to mine, it kinda felt like reading my own biography at times. Characters were indeed my favorite part of the book, as I adore series about an interconnected group of friends, where all characters have the depth that can only be achieved through a series of this kind.
As to the criticism, the plot was nice, but I personally would’ve preferred to see a bit more of everything. It felt quite superficial, with the main focus on smut, which is not exactly what I was expecting from the book. The enemies to lovers trope also felt a bit forced, but I loved the couple nonetheless. The biggest plot twist gave off k-drama vibes, and I feel it was more of a page-filler, consequences of which were smoothed out quite a lot.
Other than that, I genuinely believe this story was good, and I can’t wait to read the sequels!
As to the criticism, the plot was nice, but I personally would’ve preferred to see a bit more of everything. It felt quite superficial, with the main focus on smut, which is not exactly what I was expecting from the book. The enemies to lovers trope also felt a bit forced, but I loved the couple nonetheless. The biggest plot twist gave off k-drama vibes, and I feel it was more of a page-filler, consequences of which were smoothed out quite a lot.
Other than that, I genuinely believe this story was good, and I can’t wait to read the sequels!
March 16, 2025
This book was so spicy and sweet! The enemies to lovers (but also she was the only one who knew why), forced proximity, arranged marriage storyline was so fun.
The chemistry between Saar and Corm is off the charts from the very beginning. Let's add in some insulting banter? Omg, a perfect combo from hate to love
I'll tell you what though, we have to work a bit for that HEA. Saar has some trauma that sits with her really heavily that definitely comes into play through the story. She has been taken advantage of in one way or another her entire life. This understandably impacts how she views life and her current predicament.
Corm is going through his own stuff two. And his ways of coping are not Saar's, so needless to say that there are a lot of confrontations.
There is a twist in the story that I'll be honest, I didn't see it coming. I knew something was coming....but not THIS. It was a really interesting way to take the story that I really respected and brought some additional dimension to this love story.
Overall: recommend
Spice: open door
The chemistry between Saar and Corm is off the charts from the very beginning. Let's add in some insulting banter? Omg, a perfect combo from hate to love
I'll tell you what though, we have to work a bit for that HEA. Saar has some trauma that sits with her really heavily that definitely comes into play through the story. She has been taken advantage of in one way or another her entire life. This understandably impacts how she views life and her current predicament.
Corm is going through his own stuff two. And his ways of coping are not Saar's, so needless to say that there are a lot of confrontations.
There is a twist in the story that I'll be honest, I didn't see it coming. I knew something was coming....but not THIS. It was a really interesting way to take the story that I really respected and brought some additional dimension to this love story.
Overall: recommend
Spice: open door
March 17, 2025
How did Maxine Henri make me hate and lust so hard for Corm Quinn (MMC)? Because I was hating his cocky attitude at the beginning but by the end absolutely swooning. One of my favorite things is the absolute solid girl squad that Saar (FMC) has going on. Celeste (A Temporary Forever), Cora and Lily are all so amazing and supportive of Saar’s decisions even if they don’t fully agree. When Corm and Saar find themselves in a relationship (to marriage) of convenience the hate and desire is palpable. The sparks from these two had me screaming (and especially when they acted on them)! The way Saar loved to push every single one of his buttons and Corm was secretly loving every second. The twist towards the end made the ending 100% sweeter.
I cant wait for Lily and Declan’s book because I’m a sucker for nanny/single dad romance!
I cant wait for Lily and Declan’s book because I’m a sucker for nanny/single dad romance!
March 17, 2025
Wow! Maxine never disappoints, this book is a true enemies to lovers! The banter, the angst, the tension between these two were top-tier!
Saar is a model who is tired of living in the demanding fashion world, she is going to retire when she finds out that her life savings are gone. An arranged marriage is the only solution to her problems.
Corm is an arrogant playboy, but just waiting until you see the real Corm under all the layers, he is obsessed, possessive, and head over heels in love with Saar.
Corm & Saar's story is a slow burn that will explode when they finally accept their attraction to each other. It was extremely well-written and left me swooning.
The plot, the angst, the spice, and the characters made this a 5-star read for me.
March 30, 2025
4.5 rounded up
This was my first book by this author, and it will not be my last. I loved the amount of tension and how it worked its way into the spice. They both got under each other’s skin in different ways and the banter at the beginning was great. Corm can come off as a jerk and I loved that Saar was having none of it. There was good depth and emotion on top of the spice. There was so much this couple had to work through and some things tore my heart. I am so glad I decided to pick this one up.
Thank you @hambright_pr for the gifted copy.
This was my first book by this author, and it will not be my last. I loved the amount of tension and how it worked its way into the spice. They both got under each other’s skin in different ways and the banter at the beginning was great. Corm can come off as a jerk and I loved that Saar was having none of it. There was good depth and emotion on top of the spice. There was so much this couple had to work through and some things tore my heart. I am so glad I decided to pick this one up.
Thank you @hambright_pr for the gifted copy.
March 13, 2025
I absolutely LOVED the vibes of this book and was immediately captivated. A billionaire romance is the perfect palate cleanser, and when you add in a marriage of convenience and I'm completely hooked. The arguments and tension, along with the sizzling chemistry and humorous dialogue, kept me engaged throughout the entire story. The character development was exceptionally well done. Both Saar and Corm are strong-willed and intricate, yet they are also fierce and protective. This complexity makes the reader fall in love with their enemies-to-lovers journey. I loved the spin-off continuation of the series!
𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓥𝓲𝓫𝓮𝓼:
✨ Billionaire Romance
✨ Marriage of Convenience
✨ Slow Burn
✨ Enemies to Lovers
✨ OTT Protective MC
✨ “My Wife”
✨ He Falls First
✨ Brother’s Enemy
✨ Angst and Banter
✨ Mental Health Representation
𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓥𝓲𝓫𝓮𝓼:
✨ Billionaire Romance
✨ Marriage of Convenience
✨ Slow Burn
✨ Enemies to Lovers
✨ OTT Protective MC
✨ “My Wife”
✨ He Falls First
✨ Brother’s Enemy
✨ Angst and Banter
✨ Mental Health Representation
March 9, 2025
Star Rating: 4⭐️
Spice Rating: 3🌶️
Format: E-book 📱
🌻🦋 My Review 🦋🌻
This book is sweet, heartbreaking, spicy & amazing.
I love the fact that Corm was a jackass from the beginning and well he ends off as a jackass too. Just a jackass who was madly in love with his wife.
I enjoyed this book so much. It was everything I wanted in an enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience romance but I had a teeny tiny problem that I couldn’t get out of my head
Saar & Corm’s history was a bit weird to me from the beginning. Like there was a misunderstanding from the start that brought about Saar’s brothers’ intense hatred of Corm. This was just…. Never cleared up? Like at all. Saar says “I wanted you to take me to the dance”. And that’s about it.
Her brothers still think that he did something so bad to her she tried to unalive herself and she NEVER clears that up.
As much as I thoroughly enjoyed pretty much everything else about this book that really just irked me. Sorry.
Spice Rating: 3🌶️
Format: E-book 📱
🌻🦋 My Review 🦋🌻
This book is sweet, heartbreaking, spicy & amazing.
I love the fact that Corm was a jackass from the beginning and well he ends off as a jackass too. Just a jackass who was madly in love with his wife.
I enjoyed this book so much. It was everything I wanted in an enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience romance but I had a teeny tiny problem that I couldn’t get out of my head
Saar & Corm’s history was a bit weird to me from the beginning. Like there was a misunderstanding from the start that brought about Saar’s brothers’ intense hatred of Corm. This was just…. Never cleared up? Like at all. Saar says “I wanted you to take me to the dance”. And that’s about it.
Her brothers still think that he did something so bad to her she tried to unalive herself and she NEVER clears that up.
As much as I thoroughly enjoyed pretty much everything else about this book that really just irked me. Sorry.
April 5, 2025
3.50⭐️
DNFed it at 80%.
The fmc was to messed up.
DNFed it at 80%.
The fmc was to messed up.
March 16, 2025
The nickname threw me off a little bit BUT I absolutely loved this story!
March 14, 2025
I love a marriage of convenience, because it always gets to "my wife" and I love a "my wife".
Especially when he is an asshole at first. And Corm is an asshole all the way.
Both of them sufferd on their on way and found peace and happiness with each other.
Loved this story
Especially when he is an asshole at first. And Corm is an asshole all the way.
Both of them sufferd on their on way and found peace and happiness with each other.
Loved this story
March 21, 2025
A Forgotten Promise is an emotional rollercoaster that kept me enthralled way past my bedtime. This is not just a fake marriage story- it’s a deeply layered, high-stakes enemies-to-lovers romance with passion, power struggles, and heart-wrenching character growth.
Saar and Cormac truly cannot stand each other at the start, and their interactions are filled with delicious tension, sharp banter, and even some hilarious pranks that had me laughing out loud. But beneath their hostility is a slow-burning attraction that neither of them can deny, and watching them navigate their complicated relationship was so addictive that I devoured the book in one sitting.
Saar’s journey was incredibly compelling- her loneliness and struggle to reclaim control over her life made her such a strong and relatable heroine. Cormac had one of the best a character arcs I've ever read! I went from tolerating him to hating him, to falling for him, to having my heart completely shattered for him. His transformation was so well-written that by the end, I was utterly in love.
The romantic suspense, the emotional depth, the perfectly timed humor, and the raw vulnerability between Saar and Cormac all made this book an unforgettable experience. Their HEA was so well-deserved, and I felt every single moment leading up to it.
Maxine Henri is an auto-read author for me now- she somehow manages to make me feel every possible emotion in one book, and I’m totally here for it! If you love angsty, passionate, enemies-to-lovers romance with a powerful emotional core, A Forgotten Promise is a must-read!
Saar and Cormac truly cannot stand each other at the start, and their interactions are filled with delicious tension, sharp banter, and even some hilarious pranks that had me laughing out loud. But beneath their hostility is a slow-burning attraction that neither of them can deny, and watching them navigate their complicated relationship was so addictive that I devoured the book in one sitting.
Saar’s journey was incredibly compelling- her loneliness and struggle to reclaim control over her life made her such a strong and relatable heroine. Cormac had one of the best a character arcs I've ever read! I went from tolerating him to hating him, to falling for him, to having my heart completely shattered for him. His transformation was so well-written that by the end, I was utterly in love.
The romantic suspense, the emotional depth, the perfectly timed humor, and the raw vulnerability between Saar and Cormac all made this book an unforgettable experience. Their HEA was so well-deserved, and I felt every single moment leading up to it.
Maxine Henri is an auto-read author for me now- she somehow manages to make me feel every possible emotion in one book, and I’m totally here for it! If you love angsty, passionate, enemies-to-lovers romance with a powerful emotional core, A Forgotten Promise is a must-read!
March 19, 2025
I devoured this one!!!
Give me all the “he falls hard” grumpy billionaire romances like this one and I will be a happy girl.
Corm and Saar’s story is all things sweet, spicy, angsty and delicious. Filled with some of my favorite micro tropes, this story kept me invested the entire way through. I had to know what came next for these two, and their journey did not disappoint.
Saar is such a vulnerable yet strong character, that I was completely charmed by her. Recovering from years of not being cared for as a big time model leaves her feeling burnt out. Combined with the situation she finds herself navigating, she even battles a touch of depression, but enter Corm - and we see our girl start to thrive again.
The best part? The way this broody alpha-hole turns feral for our girl. The depths this man goes to can best be described as sometimes unhinged, but also so dang tender my heart couldn’t take it. And the intimacy… ugh. Chefs kiss!
A bit of suspense, a couple of twists, and all the things listed above… this story packs a punch. And I loved every bit of it.
Maxine Henri is a new to me author, but after reading this one, I will be reading more of this authors works. Thank you to Maxine & Hambright PR for the chance to read this as an ARC. This story is beautiful.
Give me all the “he falls hard” grumpy billionaire romances like this one and I will be a happy girl.
Corm and Saar’s story is all things sweet, spicy, angsty and delicious. Filled with some of my favorite micro tropes, this story kept me invested the entire way through. I had to know what came next for these two, and their journey did not disappoint.
Saar is such a vulnerable yet strong character, that I was completely charmed by her. Recovering from years of not being cared for as a big time model leaves her feeling burnt out. Combined with the situation she finds herself navigating, she even battles a touch of depression, but enter Corm - and we see our girl start to thrive again.
The best part? The way this broody alpha-hole turns feral for our girl. The depths this man goes to can best be described as sometimes unhinged, but also so dang tender my heart couldn’t take it. And the intimacy… ugh. Chefs kiss!
A bit of suspense, a couple of twists, and all the things listed above… this story packs a punch. And I loved every bit of it.
Maxine Henri is a new to me author, but after reading this one, I will be reading more of this authors works. Thank you to Maxine & Hambright PR for the chance to read this as an ARC. This story is beautiful.
March 11, 2025
@Maxine_Henri_Romance you've done it again! My god could you make this anymore of an emotional rollercoaster... I mean I love enemies to lovers and he falls first but Jesus our MMC Corm fell right in🤣. Our FMC Saar is a fiesty little thing and boy does she give Corm a run for his money! Lots of emotional growth, banter and spice and uhh a little romantic suspense?! Marriage of convenience say less, Wow! Chefs kiss!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
March 11, 2025
Thank you so much for @hambright_pr for the eArc! The banter is 10/10, and I love a sassy FMC so much. Cormac and his commanding personality was written soooo good. But then enters Saar who knocks him down a peg or two. If you like billionaire romances, definitely check this one out!
dnf
March 26, 2025dnf - he wakes up with a naked ow in his bed even after meeting h.
July 8, 2025
dnfd at 34%
fmc is TSTL ( too stupid to live). any bad decision she has to make she makes an awful one. she also herself says that she's seeking validation from other people multiple times. it starts out in a flashback to when she's 15 & her friend told her that the MMC was going to ask FMC to a dance when the MMC was really asking her friend. her friend did it in retaliation because they were at the mall and a modeling agency stopped the FMC trying to recruit her. she crashed out and left for a Switzerland boarding school. then I jumped the 2 years before the book starts where the FMC comes to the MMC asking him to sell a property to her brother. I think part of that is in book one but I didn't read that yet. the MMC and one of her brothers ends up going into business together in addition to two other people in a company called merged. then it jumps 2 years. where are the mmcc FMC in a nightclub and then he goes and hooks up with some girl. now where the issue lies for me is they make a fake marriage plan where they say they've been seeing each other long distance for a year but he was caught and had articles written about him hooking up with people so basically he was cheating on her then if they're trying to spin that storyline.
then there's this whole story line with her where she is a model for like 12 years and has the same manager who tells her that tax person has been stealing from her. she doesn't research this at all it doesn't confront anyone about this but just believes that her manager is doing what he's supposed to be doing. but part of this is because she's seeking validation from her manager and she feels like he's been there for her more than her parents have. but of course he's the one that's stealing the money from her.
also the timeline seems to be a little all over the place. like she's been back in New York for a few weeks but then she'll make comments that make it sound like she's only been there for a few days.
then she's off like redecorating his house and making all these weird demands for their wedding like having owls as ring bearers and changing the furniture at his house but she's talking about how it's going to be a fake marriage so if that's the case what's the point in doing all of that other than spending his money. but like she could be spending his money and like buying herself things like a house and using that for like Investments and shit or you know paying off her tax bill.
fmc is TSTL ( too stupid to live). any bad decision she has to make she makes an awful one. she also herself says that she's seeking validation from other people multiple times. it starts out in a flashback to when she's 15 & her friend told her that the MMC was going to ask FMC to a dance when the MMC was really asking her friend. her friend did it in retaliation because they were at the mall and a modeling agency stopped the FMC trying to recruit her. she crashed out and left for a Switzerland boarding school. then I jumped the 2 years before the book starts where the FMC comes to the MMC asking him to sell a property to her brother. I think part of that is in book one but I didn't read that yet. the MMC and one of her brothers ends up going into business together in addition to two other people in a company called merged. then it jumps 2 years. where are the mmcc FMC in a nightclub and then he goes and hooks up with some girl. now where the issue lies for me is they make a fake marriage plan where they say they've been seeing each other long distance for a year but he was caught and had articles written about him hooking up with people so basically he was cheating on her then if they're trying to spin that storyline.
then there's this whole story line with her where she is a model for like 12 years and has the same manager who tells her that tax person has been stealing from her. she doesn't research this at all it doesn't confront anyone about this but just believes that her manager is doing what he's supposed to be doing. but part of this is because she's seeking validation from her manager and she feels like he's been there for her more than her parents have. but of course he's the one that's stealing the money from her.
also the timeline seems to be a little all over the place. like she's been back in New York for a few weeks but then she'll make comments that make it sound like she's only been there for a few days.
then she's off like redecorating his house and making all these weird demands for their wedding like having owls as ring bearers and changing the furniture at his house but she's talking about how it's going to be a fake marriage so if that's the case what's the point in doing all of that other than spending his money. but like she could be spending his money and like buying herself things like a house and using that for like Investments and shit or you know paying off her tax bill.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2025
Tropes:
- Billionaire
- Marriage of convenience (he needs to clean up his image x she needs access to her trust fund)
- Enemies to lovers
- Protective hero
If you’re looking for a marriage of convenience, billionaire story, you might want to give this one a try.
Whilst the story is nothing new to this genre and tropes, the chemistry between Cormac and Saar is palpable from the first page, and their constant push and pull makes A forgotten promise a fun, easy read.
Cormac is the star of the show for me, as we get to see his transition from reckless party boy to a caring and loving partner, discovering the motives behind his past behaviour.
The way he took care of Saar, watching out for her and pushing her to become the best version of herself make him a wonderful partner.
Even if he could be a bit controlling sometimes, hiding information from Saar, his intentions were always good, and he did everything in his power to get her to stay by his side.
As much as I liked Saar, her actions seemed a bit immature sometimes, acting out just to spite Cormac. However, seeing her take a gamble and decide to trust Cormac, both after she discovers what he hid from her as well as after her short memory-loss, made up for her past behaviour.
My only complaint about this story is the following:
The reason Saar needed to marry was very interesting, but I wish this book had delved more into that. Whilst the love story between the main characters was well developed, I think the sub-plot never got resolved.
What was the motive behind the antagonist’s actions near the end of the book? What happened to him? These are answers I feel the reader should have gotten.
The next book will be Declan and Lily’s, a single, billionaire grumpy dad x nanny story.
Whilst I did like the snippets of Declan’s personality we got from this book (and I feel we’ve been given a glimpse of one of the conflicts that will arise during his book with the appearance of his ex wife), I didn’t get to know Lily enough to make me ecstatic for her story (I hope the next book gives more insight into the side characters personalities).
However, given that I liked this story I will definitely be reading Declan and Lily’s book.
- Billionaire
- Marriage of convenience (he needs to clean up his image x she needs access to her trust fund)
- Enemies to lovers
- Protective hero
If you’re looking for a marriage of convenience, billionaire story, you might want to give this one a try.
Whilst the story is nothing new to this genre and tropes, the chemistry between Cormac and Saar is palpable from the first page, and their constant push and pull makes A forgotten promise a fun, easy read.
Cormac is the star of the show for me, as we get to see his transition from reckless party boy to a caring and loving partner, discovering the motives behind his past behaviour.
The way he took care of Saar, watching out for her and pushing her to become the best version of herself make him a wonderful partner.
Even if he could be a bit controlling sometimes, hiding information from Saar, his intentions were always good, and he did everything in his power to get her to stay by his side.
As much as I liked Saar, her actions seemed a bit immature sometimes, acting out just to spite Cormac. However, seeing her take a gamble and decide to trust Cormac, both after she discovers what he hid from her as well as after her short memory-loss, made up for her past behaviour.
My only complaint about this story is the following:
The reason Saar needed to marry was very interesting, but I wish this book had delved more into that. Whilst the love story between the main characters was well developed, I think the sub-plot never got resolved.
What was the motive behind the antagonist’s actions near the end of the book? What happened to him? These are answers I feel the reader should have gotten.
The next book will be Declan and Lily’s, a single, billionaire grumpy dad x nanny story.
Whilst I did like the snippets of Declan’s personality we got from this book (and I feel we’ve been given a glimpse of one of the conflicts that will arise during his book with the appearance of his ex wife), I didn’t get to know Lily enough to make me ecstatic for her story (I hope the next book gives more insight into the side characters personalities).
However, given that I liked this story I will definitely be reading Declan and Lily’s book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews