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Finding Forever: The Hawthornes
Niall Caden Hawthorne—Cade—lives an exacting, uncompromising life. His only priorities are, and always will be, his family and his business. He’d do anything for them. This includes marrying a colorless, drab moth of a woman who leaves him physically and emotionally cold.
Fern Lambert is everything Cade has never wanted in a woman—timid, sheltered, shockingly inexperienced, and—after a night of uncharacteristically bad choices—pregnant with his baby.
She is also the key to securing an elusive business contract that Cade has been after for nearly a year. Marrying her means giving up three years of his life, it means acknowledging a child that he never planned on having… it means complications and disruptions to his well-ordered life.
But Cade knows it’s the right thing to do. It’s the only thing to do. That doesn’t mean he has to like it.
And—inexplicable fascination with her lush upper lip notwithstanding—it certainly doesn’t mean he has to like her.
Fern Lambert is everything Cade has never wanted in a woman—timid, sheltered, shockingly inexperienced, and—after a night of uncharacteristically bad choices—pregnant with his baby.
She is also the key to securing an elusive business contract that Cade has been after for nearly a year. Marrying her means giving up three years of his life, it means acknowledging a child that he never planned on having… it means complications and disruptions to his well-ordered life.
But Cade knows it’s the right thing to do. It’s the only thing to do. That doesn’t mean he has to like it.
And—inexplicable fascination with her lush upper lip notwithstanding—it certainly doesn’t mean he has to like her.
516 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2025
370 people are currently reading
553 people want to read
About the author
Natasha Anders
22 books3,186 followersSince making her publishing debut in 2012, Natasha Anders has drawn praise and attention as a unique voice in romance. Montlake author and 2018 RITA® Finalist, Anders was born in Cape Town, South Africa. She spent nine years as an associate English teacher in Niigata, Japan, where she became a legendary karaoke diva. Anders currently lives in Cape Town.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
April 8, 2025
This book felt like watching a car crash in slow motion, except the heroine was not just begging the car to hit her, she laid down on the pavement, thanked it for noticing her, and called the wreckage true love, while the hero played the car, the road, and the brainless man-child behind the wheel.
May 20, 2025
3 Stars
Quick Opinion: This was just okay for me. It took me (what felt like) a long time to read and that was because I had a lot going on, but also I wasn't as engaged as I hoped to be. It was a jerk H that was emotionally immature but grows to realize that the h and their baby is exactly what he wants after all (and after most of the book fighting it). The name drama was kind of weird. The side characters were likable. The h was not necessarily a doormat but I don't think I really liked her or connected with her either. I can see where this would be a winner for many of my GR friends, but it was one that I can see not really remembering in a few months.
Safety: Safe -
Quick Opinion: This was just okay for me. It took me (what felt like) a long time to read and that was because I had a lot going on, but also I wasn't as engaged as I hoped to be. It was a jerk H that was emotionally immature but grows to realize that the h and their baby is exactly what he wants after all (and after most of the book fighting it). The name drama was kind of weird. The side characters were likable. The h was not necessarily a doormat but I don't think I really liked her or connected with her either. I can see where this would be a winner for many of my GR friends, but it was one that I can see not really remembering in a few months.
Safety: Safe -
April 3, 2025
I think he’s an abuser and a bully
She’s pathetic
Honestly I was expecting at some point she left or something but she does nothing… just taking it all.
You don’t need to be a very clever man to know not to speak or act like this with a pregnant woman, he is just cruel and mean and I don’t believe for a second that he loves her, impossible
Actually I think this book could be very triggering for some readers…
She’s pathetic
Honestly I was expecting at some point she left or something but she does nothing… just taking it all.
You don’t need to be a very clever man to know not to speak or act like this with a pregnant woman, he is just cruel and mean and I don’t believe for a second that he loves her, impossible
Actually I think this book could be very triggering for some readers…
May 21, 2025
I originally DNF'd this story, then my good friend talked me into going back and giving this one another chance. I'm happy I did. My head wasn't into the story the first time I gave it a try. I started it over, and I definitely enjoyed this one the second time around.
April 2, 2025
“Finding forever” is the story of Fern and Cade.
Hero and heroine meet at a party and have a one night stand. To her, it’s a beautiful interlude. To him, “worst sex of his life.”
The heroine lives in servitude to her evil uncle and two stepsisters, who steal her money and treat her like garbage. Few weeks after the encounter, when she finds herself pregnant and that the hero is her uncles business rival, she proposes a marriage of convenience.
Their journey forms the story.
My biggest issue with this book is the hero. Yes he had some family and daddy issues, but god he was soooo mean to the poor heroine. He always treated her like garbage, couldn’t make his mind up about his emotions so would get close to her and then push her away- knowing that she craves affection and has grown up without any. He body and beauty shamed her, didn’t let her share her feelings - even when she said she was glad to have a family he rudely reminded her that it was his family. She was a pushover so kept forgiving him, but nothing he did made me warm up to him as he was a fully grown bully. He was also callous about her pregnancy, and I didn’t like him. The heroine needed therapy but she had a heart of gold
Angst in parts but overall ok
Safe
2.5/5
Hero and heroine meet at a party and have a one night stand. To her, it’s a beautiful interlude. To him, “worst sex of his life.”
The heroine lives in servitude to her evil uncle and two stepsisters, who steal her money and treat her like garbage. Few weeks after the encounter, when she finds herself pregnant and that the hero is her uncles business rival, she proposes a marriage of convenience.
Their journey forms the story.
My biggest issue with this book is the hero. Yes he had some family and daddy issues, but god he was soooo mean to the poor heroine. He always treated her like garbage, couldn’t make his mind up about his emotions so would get close to her and then push her away- knowing that she craves affection and has grown up without any. He body and beauty shamed her, didn’t let her share her feelings - even when she said she was glad to have a family he rudely reminded her that it was his family. She was a pushover so kept forgiving him, but nothing he did made me warm up to him as he was a fully grown bully. He was also callous about her pregnancy, and I didn’t like him. The heroine needed therapy but she had a heart of gold
Angst in parts but overall ok
Safe
2.5/5
June 30, 2025
This started out good but was too long and drawn out with the H pushing back. The angst was centered around the H saying his truths to the fmc like he’s on the spectrum…. He wasn’t trying to be hurtful- he was just telling the truth as he saw it. He sure said a lot of hurtful
Things. Telling the fmc she was the worst sex of his life.. but dude didn’t pick up On the fact she was a 27yo virgin. He was definitely emotionally stunted. This angst just didn’t do it for me because it was like the H had Asperger’s.
Things. Telling the fmc she was the worst sex of his life.. but dude didn’t pick up On the fact she was a 27yo virgin. He was definitely emotionally stunted. This angst just didn’t do it for me because it was like the H had Asperger’s.
April 13, 2025
Loved the angst in this one! This is why I love Natasha Anders! The H really had his head up it, but he eventually realized what he had with Fern. Love the name Fern, btw. It’s my dog’s name! I loved Fern’s pragmatism.
April 5, 2025
The hero annoyed
He was hard to like. But because we were in his head alot, I knew he loved her even if he didn't know it yet. But I did get sick of it at times. He could be a real.dick. I loved.Fern, I loved Cades dad too. It was very cute. And the epilogue was perfect. Obviously this is a series and I can't wait to get involved with them!
He was hard to like. But because we were in his head alot, I knew he loved her even if he didn't know it yet. But I did get sick of it at times. He could be a real.dick. I loved.Fern, I loved Cades dad too. It was very cute. And the epilogue was perfect. Obviously this is a series and I can't wait to get involved with them!
May 12, 2025
I've heard of this author before. I heard that she loves writing asshole heroes. Well, I get it now. Gosh, her heroes are infuriating.
The thing about our guy here is that what he said and his actions were a world apart. He would say the hurtful things about her and yet his actions contradicted himself. Even I got the whiplash from his treatment, no wonder our girl turned mercurial as well.
Well, the book is heavy on the internal plot, i.e. revolving around their feelings with each other, our girl trying to find herself after being abused and taken advantage of by her step-family and our guy with his huge ego and refusal to fall for his wife even though we all know he fell hard.
Something that I did like though, and I don't think many would agree with me, is the
All in all, I need to know if this book is the standard of heroes in her books. I think I need to be in a very forgiving mood to read any of her works from now on.
The thing about our guy here is that what he said and his actions were a world apart. He would say the hurtful things about her and yet his actions contradicted himself. Even I got the whiplash from his treatment, no wonder our girl turned mercurial as well.
Well, the book is heavy on the internal plot, i.e. revolving around their feelings with each other, our girl trying to find herself after being abused and taken advantage of by her step-family and our guy with his huge ego and refusal to fall for his wife even though we all know he fell hard.
Something that I did like though, and I don't think many would agree with me, is the
All in all, I need to know if this book is the standard of heroes in her books. I think I need to be in a very forgiving mood to read any of her works from now on.
April 8, 2025
Grovel = h overhears the H, SEVERAL times, making harsh observations and thoughts about the h...H was fighting his own feelings but eventually gets over himself and buckles down to grovel to the h through word and deed.
Entertaining book
Entertaining book
November 10, 2025
4.25⭐️
March 30, 2025
O my! I felt every heartache, pain and disappointment. This is such an emotional romance, you won’t be able to put it down.
You will fall in love with Fern and her new 3 year plan has a lot of twists and turns. You will love some twists, hate some twists, and just giggle along with the others.
This re-tell of Cinderella is done so exceptionally well.
You will fall in love with Fern and her new 3 year plan has a lot of twists and turns. You will love some twists, hate some twists, and just giggle along with the others.
This re-tell of Cinderella is done so exceptionally well.
April 5, 2025
Very readable—he’s a bit of a mess, but it keeps the story moving forward.
April 6, 2025
I started this book with very high expectations & oh my goodness… it absolutely exceeded those expectations. My kind of story.
I just could not put it down and had to finish it in a few hours today. From the prologue (which captured me with the way the characters and surroundings were describes) up until the last word of the epilogue… Was so so so good and well written.
Especially the way Fern developed as character just spoke to me in a way I cannot describe.
Finding Forever will be forever in my mind and I am immediately putting all this author’s previous books on my TBR.
I just could not put it down and had to finish it in a few hours today. From the prologue (which captured me with the way the characters and surroundings were describes) up until the last word of the epilogue… Was so so so good and well written.
Especially the way Fern developed as character just spoke to me in a way I cannot describe.
Finding Forever will be forever in my mind and I am immediately putting all this author’s previous books on my TBR.
March 31, 2025
I love love love these characters! They are so well developed and will have you rooting for them from the very beginning. This story had me feeling every possible emotion in the best of ways! As usual, Natasha did not disappoint!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 10, 2025
Trauma Bonding Over Forced Proximity Isn't Romance. Also, An Abuse Victim Wanting To Be An Occupational Therapist, Gaslighting Disabled People, Is Certainly A Choice Of Career
Another Cock Queen.
So then I assume her abuse wasn't long term.
Because she can suck like an unabused woman.
Note For The Sexist Ableists: Trauma and Abuse impact your ability to eat and gag, first. So oral isn't going to be a chore for abused people.
Abuse isn't just a mood swing.
Thank you please.
The way she rushes to defend him after he pretends being accused of sexual predation is A detriment. Apartheid Musk was revealed to be am abuser in 2010 at least and nothing happened.
Wild.
Defending him after hes abusing her to his dad.
Russell Brand gets to perform Christianity to get out of Rape.
His sex scenes with her made my mouth dry because I know he's imagining a moth.
How cruel, having her in his presence after he was so toxic about her to his father.
Anglocentric white women, can you PLEASE demand that he grows up BEYOND just needing to beg for forgiveness at the end
Sexism and Ableism is rampant.
Hurt people do not hurt people and the fact he gets to use that as an excuse and she doesn't immediately run for an abortion pill, is a red flag.
But this book is for the Unseen, Unloved and utterly Unfucked women to depower their input into the circle of life, to the moment a sperm shows up.
I think its really pathetic to be warmed by the idea he had to coax himself into being supportive for you.
But you need to feel better than the beautiful women that he seen before you.
But I dunno what its like to turn a person into a quest or reduce them to a journal entry of traits.
Green Pilled Patriarchial Parable of Toxicity.
Perfect breeding ground for emotional abuse of that child, two people learning to live with each other.
The book is so sexist because MOST cisgender, heterosexual women, do not orgasm from sex.
So I'm really confused as to why not orgasming would have demonstrated a bad time for him.
Omg, most women don't have orgasms from sex but all of Anders's men are the special men who only attract magical vaginas who spontaneously orgasm for them.
I mean, I orgasm in sex.
But I'm hypersexual and neurodiverse, from multiple long term cycles of generational trauma, where there was a soldier in my garden as a kid.
Most women dont.
So I don't get him pretending otherwise.
And romanticising these conversations, when women read more than orgasm, is wild.
I guess theres a divide between women who think authenticity is romantic and women who think protecting him from the long term emotional consequences of his choices, so all he has to do is be vulnerable once, is romantic.
Well, married women has less sex, more work and less hobbies than single mothers, and express higher levels of depression.
So...waiting for the day when we stop roleplaying that anecdotal emotional validation, is enough after long term choices that went the other way.
Men had a typically under exercised nervous system, compared to women, who typically have an over exercised nervous system.
By the middle of the book, his sympathic nervous system has to stop being protected, or I started to get pissed that this story is about optics, and not authenticity and support.
Can't support someone through something that you aren't honest about.
Ever notice how the rich man, with a wealth or freedom, knowledge, an emotional support network (etc) gets to "process" (abandon her at tight moments repeatedly) while she just doesn't absorb this need to process in their relationship.
She just has to react.
Fabulous.
Damn I hate Occupational Therapists.
We disabled people want a social model, before a medical model, for these things.
And this isn't it.
The liberals want to gaslight us and work us dead.
Fuck that.
Take your Toxic Positivity and Infantilisation of Disabled People and shove them all the way up your affluent, privileged asshole, unlubed, preferrably.
Imagine bleating about "learning difficulties" and then jumping to be an OT when disabled people want paid for the trauma of existing arounf the Abled toddlers.
Hahah, we are done doing Cortisol Flushes for you.
So thus, I can't relate to her for wanting to convince Disabled people that they are able, so the Abled can feeed on them and exploit them.
"The thought of being the one to wake her up."
STAHP.
JUST STAHP.
Oh my fucking gawd.
It is a major red flag if hes attracted to your inexperience.
A toxic major red flag.
Being a guide is something to treat with reverence, not sought out and enjoyed.
Omg.
Gross.
This is why neurodiverse women are always targetted by these manipulative coercive fuckers.
Oh gross.
Because sometimes we have to mask and pacify and then theh chase us more because it comes across as needing sexually awakened.
Large Dicked Dicks are the worst Dickers of all Dicked Dickers, that have ever Dicked Dick.
Men with big dicks, just show up with their big dicks. They literally do nothing else. I dunno about other Hetersosexual cisgender women, (actually I do, I know your Fairy Cave has cobwebs) but I need more from my Sex Toy than a delivery from the Postman.
So bored of women who hate Pick Mes, but only because they weren't picked.
Internalised Pick Me-ism.
Men who sleep around rely on the women who are afraid to speak up.
Studies repeatedly show that men only need have requirements before they generally act. Women generally won't act until they meet all requirements, so they don't tell these badly dicked men that they are bad at dicking, they are afraid to do anything but loudly verbally validate him.
Creates poor sex skills, like poor driving skills.
But I guess this is where we are at, the Unseen, Unloved and utterly Unfucked are being pandered to, because they don't want to live in world where these men are bed at sex, just where they have all the attributes, that will make them, bad at sex.
One day we will stop being ruled by hyposensitive affluent women who still want to fuck Tony Soprano.
He gets to blow hot and cold.over and over, classic NPD that loves to poke and shun the DID victim who is more likemy to absorb how the NPD person feels and sacrifice her own needs.
I see no reason why she trusts him.
He only needs to do anecdotal bullshit to get back into her pants, enjoying her innocence like a groomer.
He gets to emotionally and socially isolate her so he can fuck her and then abandon her and then blame her for comparing her to her other abusers.
Gawd I hate him.
I wish white women expected better but Apartheid Women are wild.
Another Cock Queen.
So then I assume her abuse wasn't long term.
Because she can suck like an unabused woman.
Note For The Sexist Ableists: Trauma and Abuse impact your ability to eat and gag, first. So oral isn't going to be a chore for abused people.
Abuse isn't just a mood swing.
Thank you please.
The way she rushes to defend him after he pretends being accused of sexual predation is A detriment. Apartheid Musk was revealed to be am abuser in 2010 at least and nothing happened.
Wild.
Defending him after hes abusing her to his dad.
Russell Brand gets to perform Christianity to get out of Rape.
His sex scenes with her made my mouth dry because I know he's imagining a moth.
How cruel, having her in his presence after he was so toxic about her to his father.
Anglocentric white women, can you PLEASE demand that he grows up BEYOND just needing to beg for forgiveness at the end
Sexism and Ableism is rampant.
Hurt people do not hurt people and the fact he gets to use that as an excuse and she doesn't immediately run for an abortion pill, is a red flag.
But this book is for the Unseen, Unloved and utterly Unfucked women to depower their input into the circle of life, to the moment a sperm shows up.
I think its really pathetic to be warmed by the idea he had to coax himself into being supportive for you.
But you need to feel better than the beautiful women that he seen before you.
But I dunno what its like to turn a person into a quest or reduce them to a journal entry of traits.
Green Pilled Patriarchial Parable of Toxicity.
Perfect breeding ground for emotional abuse of that child, two people learning to live with each other.
The book is so sexist because MOST cisgender, heterosexual women, do not orgasm from sex.
So I'm really confused as to why not orgasming would have demonstrated a bad time for him.
Omg, most women don't have orgasms from sex but all of Anders's men are the special men who only attract magical vaginas who spontaneously orgasm for them.
I mean, I orgasm in sex.
But I'm hypersexual and neurodiverse, from multiple long term cycles of generational trauma, where there was a soldier in my garden as a kid.
Most women dont.
So I don't get him pretending otherwise.
And romanticising these conversations, when women read more than orgasm, is wild.
I guess theres a divide between women who think authenticity is romantic and women who think protecting him from the long term emotional consequences of his choices, so all he has to do is be vulnerable once, is romantic.
Well, married women has less sex, more work and less hobbies than single mothers, and express higher levels of depression.
So...waiting for the day when we stop roleplaying that anecdotal emotional validation, is enough after long term choices that went the other way.
Men had a typically under exercised nervous system, compared to women, who typically have an over exercised nervous system.
By the middle of the book, his sympathic nervous system has to stop being protected, or I started to get pissed that this story is about optics, and not authenticity and support.
Can't support someone through something that you aren't honest about.
Ever notice how the rich man, with a wealth or freedom, knowledge, an emotional support network (etc) gets to "process" (abandon her at tight moments repeatedly) while she just doesn't absorb this need to process in their relationship.
She just has to react.
Fabulous.
Damn I hate Occupational Therapists.
We disabled people want a social model, before a medical model, for these things.
And this isn't it.
The liberals want to gaslight us and work us dead.
Fuck that.
Take your Toxic Positivity and Infantilisation of Disabled People and shove them all the way up your affluent, privileged asshole, unlubed, preferrably.
Imagine bleating about "learning difficulties" and then jumping to be an OT when disabled people want paid for the trauma of existing arounf the Abled toddlers.
Hahah, we are done doing Cortisol Flushes for you.
So thus, I can't relate to her for wanting to convince Disabled people that they are able, so the Abled can feeed on them and exploit them.
"The thought of being the one to wake her up."
STAHP.
JUST STAHP.
Oh my fucking gawd.
It is a major red flag if hes attracted to your inexperience.
A toxic major red flag.
Being a guide is something to treat with reverence, not sought out and enjoyed.
Omg.
Gross.
This is why neurodiverse women are always targetted by these manipulative coercive fuckers.
Oh gross.
Because sometimes we have to mask and pacify and then theh chase us more because it comes across as needing sexually awakened.
Large Dicked Dicks are the worst Dickers of all Dicked Dickers, that have ever Dicked Dick.
Men with big dicks, just show up with their big dicks. They literally do nothing else. I dunno about other Hetersosexual cisgender women, (actually I do, I know your Fairy Cave has cobwebs) but I need more from my Sex Toy than a delivery from the Postman.
So bored of women who hate Pick Mes, but only because they weren't picked.
Internalised Pick Me-ism.
Men who sleep around rely on the women who are afraid to speak up.
Studies repeatedly show that men only need have requirements before they generally act. Women generally won't act until they meet all requirements, so they don't tell these badly dicked men that they are bad at dicking, they are afraid to do anything but loudly verbally validate him.
Creates poor sex skills, like poor driving skills.
But I guess this is where we are at, the Unseen, Unloved and utterly Unfucked are being pandered to, because they don't want to live in world where these men are bed at sex, just where they have all the attributes, that will make them, bad at sex.
One day we will stop being ruled by hyposensitive affluent women who still want to fuck Tony Soprano.
He gets to blow hot and cold.over and over, classic NPD that loves to poke and shun the DID victim who is more likemy to absorb how the NPD person feels and sacrifice her own needs.
I see no reason why she trusts him.
He only needs to do anecdotal bullshit to get back into her pants, enjoying her innocence like a groomer.
He gets to emotionally and socially isolate her so he can fuck her and then abandon her and then blame her for comparing her to her other abusers.
Gawd I hate him.
I wish white women expected better but Apartheid Women are wild.
book-not-for-me
September 16, 2025September 2025
🇩🇳🇫
I tried to read this twice, bc it has the 'unplanned pregnancy' trope. I was shocked to discover just how much profanity and crude language it contains. I've read three books by N.A. that were nothing like this.
In the prologue, when the MCs are complete strangers, the MMC says: I want to f*ck you hard and long." He then goes off with the timid virgin to have rough sex.
🤢 Here's an excerpt showing the crude language:
"Fern." Her name was a primal growl that—not gonna lie—thrilled her to death and added even more wetness to the flood already pooling in her panties.
Add in 250 F's and a horrible not-a-hero who doesn't deserve an HEA.
🇩🇳🇫
I tried to read this twice, bc it has the 'unplanned pregnancy' trope. I was shocked to discover just how much profanity and crude language it contains. I've read three books by N.A. that were nothing like this.
In the prologue, when the MCs are complete strangers, the MMC says: I want to f*ck you hard and long." He then goes off with the timid virgin to have rough sex.
🤢 Here's an excerpt showing the crude language:
"Fern." Her name was a primal growl that—not gonna lie—thrilled her to death and added even more wetness to the flood already pooling in her panties.
Add in 250 F's and a horrible not-a-hero who doesn't deserve an HEA.
Read
March 19, 2025When I saw the tropes the first thing came to my head was The unwanted wife idk why I keep wanting to read about asshole MMCs!! Hope this one grovels a lot a lot!!
April 6, 2025
3.5 stars
Read
May 1, 2025DNF @ 26%. Boring.
August 18, 2025
They named their baby Casper? wtf?
November 11, 2025
3 stars !
some elements makes feel frustrated especially about the male Main character!
I have read all this author books and I enjoyed most of them !
this one is just Okish too long and dragging ...
some elements makes feel frustrated especially about the male Main character!
I have read all this author books and I enjoyed most of them !
this one is just Okish too long and dragging ...
March 28, 2025
4.5 stars
I loved it. I knew I’d love this book because I cannot even begin to tell you how many time’s I’ve re-read The Unwanted Wife. I simply love this author’s writing, & this book did not disappoint.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved it. I knew I’d love this book because I cannot even begin to tell you how many time’s I’ve re-read The Unwanted Wife. I simply love this author’s writing, & this book did not disappoint.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 5, 2025
I have to be honest and acknowledge the reason this is a 3 and not a 2 is because this is Natasha Anders. I've never not enjoyed a book, and it's a little disconcerting. And also, adding after completing my post, i understand i was expecting more from a character who was written to be a 'mouse' so my opinions are harsh and unfair. Also, have to acknowledge that i hold The Unwanted Wife on a pedestal, so again, unfair. However...this entire post is a 2 star spoiler. I am so sorry.
Fern and Cade meet at one of his family's gala events, and they're both trying to blend into the background. He doesn't really wanna be at yet another event, and she wants to experience real freedom after 15 years. He's attracted to her like a moth to a flame, and they go and smash. Only, it's his worst sexual experience with a woman ever. She's all teeth and nails. She was a virgin, and HE didn't make her experience great at all since HE was the experienced one.
They meet again at her stepfather's house, and lo and behold, she's preggers. Anyway, she negotiates with Cade to marry her, and she'll help him secure a business deal. She tells him she's pregnant, and he thinks she's lying to try and get him to say yes to the negotiation. She doesn't correct him again. They escape and get married. Wooo 😐
Eventually, she tells him, "bro, I'm actually pregnant, but you're not involved. After 3 years, me and this baby that you're gonna be forced to get to know because we're gonna live together, are gonna dip ✌🏾 he's like, cool.
So in his head, he doesn't acknowledge pregnancy, baby, and when he does, it's never with warmth or love. This is literally up to 75% of the book. I do have to say that when we started to see a shift and he was concerned the little fetus, the pear, could be crying if he heard him raise his voice...🥹 Cuuute
She gets hurt and upset everytime she notices him not acknowledging the baby or pregnancy even though she told him he's not gonna be involved. Didn't ask him. Told him.
Separately, she tries to get to know him you know be cordial, friendly, acquaintances since they're, you know, married. But he's a whiplash of contradictions. Being friendly and kind then putting her in her place and reminding her, cruelly, that she and her baby are unwanted complications who need to remember their place and basically be seen not heard. This part was written so well I was excited to read a Natasha Anders angst. She practically says 'bet' and gives him exactly what he asked for. 🥳 then whoosh like a dead balloon. She was suckered in by his lame jokes and two pages later we're pals again. This happens several times but at points I was just over it knowing full well she wasn't going to do much about it.
I do have to give grace and fully understand that she was sheltered, emotionally, and financially abused, ostracised, and bullied by her stepfather and sisters. She was brave in standing up against him through Cade. I loved that for her. However, there were moments where she'd remind herself of all her bravery and how far she'd come, but I only really saw bits of a backbone.
Unresolved for me: No real comeuppance for stepfather or stepsisters. He had misused her trust fund for years and yes we read that he essentially bankrupted and arrested for assault but no real on page salivating view of his downfall. The stepsisters sent peanuts to a woman deathly allergic to nuts and yet nothing.
Fern and Cade meet at one of his family's gala events, and they're both trying to blend into the background. He doesn't really wanna be at yet another event, and she wants to experience real freedom after 15 years. He's attracted to her like a moth to a flame, and they go and smash. Only, it's his worst sexual experience with a woman ever. She's all teeth and nails. She was a virgin, and HE didn't make her experience great at all since HE was the experienced one.
They meet again at her stepfather's house, and lo and behold, she's preggers. Anyway, she negotiates with Cade to marry her, and she'll help him secure a business deal. She tells him she's pregnant, and he thinks she's lying to try and get him to say yes to the negotiation. She doesn't correct him again. They escape and get married. Wooo 😐
Eventually, she tells him, "bro, I'm actually pregnant, but you're not involved. After 3 years, me and this baby that you're gonna be forced to get to know because we're gonna live together, are gonna dip ✌🏾 he's like, cool.
So in his head, he doesn't acknowledge pregnancy, baby, and when he does, it's never with warmth or love. This is literally up to 75% of the book. I do have to say that when we started to see a shift and he was concerned the little fetus, the pear, could be crying if he heard him raise his voice...🥹 Cuuute
She gets hurt and upset everytime she notices him not acknowledging the baby or pregnancy even though she told him he's not gonna be involved. Didn't ask him. Told him.
Separately, she tries to get to know him you know be cordial, friendly, acquaintances since they're, you know, married. But he's a whiplash of contradictions. Being friendly and kind then putting her in her place and reminding her, cruelly, that she and her baby are unwanted complications who need to remember their place and basically be seen not heard. This part was written so well I was excited to read a Natasha Anders angst. She practically says 'bet' and gives him exactly what he asked for. 🥳 then whoosh like a dead balloon. She was suckered in by his lame jokes and two pages later we're pals again. This happens several times but at points I was just over it knowing full well she wasn't going to do much about it.
I do have to give grace and fully understand that she was sheltered, emotionally, and financially abused, ostracised, and bullied by her stepfather and sisters. She was brave in standing up against him through Cade. I loved that for her. However, there were moments where she'd remind herself of all her bravery and how far she'd come, but I only really saw bits of a backbone.
Unresolved for me: No real comeuppance for stepfather or stepsisters. He had misused her trust fund for years and yes we read that he essentially bankrupted and arrested for assault but no real on page salivating view of his downfall. The stepsisters sent peanuts to a woman deathly allergic to nuts and yet nothing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2025
I have fond memories of Natasha Anders from my early days of reading romance, and I'm glad she's still writing, but this was sadly very KU-schlock. So much page filler that clearly does not serve the purpose of the story, but does serve the purpose of "KU pays by the page read" :\
Read
March 12, 2025Can't wait for this. I really hope he redeems himself, cause he sounds worse than Alessandro, and that's a very very low standard as it is.
April 8, 2025
Amazing angst and amazing writing style. The author is really good, no doubts about that.
What made me rate just three and not four was the absolute awful hero.
Ok, I admit that he eventually changed and became a hopelessly besotted guy, and he apologized and groveled, but maaaan, was he vicious.
And without cause.
The author tries to write what she’s better at. Marriages in trouble. Unwanted bride, and in this case she extended the unwanted to the unexpected child.
The hero and the heroine meet at a party, she’s quiet, shy, mousy, and he is strangely attracted to her, so they decide to have a quickie that ends really bad, basically the worst sex of his life and of hers, since she’s also a virgin.
They part without exchanging numbers, of course and a couple of months later they meet at her stepfathers.
She proposes an arranged marriage, since she’s the heiress and the stepdad is keeping her basically prisoner to exploit her money.
She’s also preggo.
The hero accepts in exchange of the company he wanted to buy from her stepfather, that is basically the company of her mother.
So, both have a personal interest, but he’s quite pissed which I didn’t really understand. He should be grateful that he had a company worth hundreds of millions for free, just to stay married with he for three years, so she can be protected from her stepdad. I didn’t understand his grumpy face, that she described resting grump face, but i would say resting bitch instead, because he had no reason to be rude with her, yet he was.
He’s awful regarding the child, ok it wasn’t planned but man up! He’s 30 something, not 22.
And he keeps being unpleasant to her when she did nothing to offend him.
He tells her she is not to become friend with his family since she’s just a guest, he tells his father she’s plain, a moth, and the opposite of what he wanted as a wife, and he tells her he doesn’t want to have anything to do with the kid.
He’s unpleasant.
He’s also very selfish and self centered, and no, I don’t buy when the author would like us to believe that he was always thinking of other peoples wellbeing since with the heroine when he talks it’s always I, me mine. Me me me me mememememememememe.
It’s always about him, a hat he wants, how he feels and doesn’t feel, what he thinks and everything has to accommodate his feelings.
Jesus.
I must admit I’ve never read such an unpleasant character, such a rude, cold, bratty man.
And yes, emotionless, beside the endless self love and self centered attention he lavish on himself.
I just wished the heroine would have been a bit more forceful, but admittedly she couldn’t do that since she had always been secluded in college and bearding school so I suppose she had to find her own strength. But it would have been very satisfying if she had been a bit catty and bitchy instead of simply staying silent and suck it up. He deserved someone who answered properly, not the poor scared little heroine.
But the angst was great. The story also has a development and the hero changes his ways around her and their kid.
It’s definitely a slow burn, both between the characters and with the unborn kid.
The heroine finds some strength towards the end, but she keeps thinking something is wrong with her instead of simply letting the asshole husband go and do her things.
And the body shaming.
I don’t know why the author keeps reiterating that the heroine is plain, colorless and unremarkable on the looks department, but it was grating my nerves. And how could she be plain? She’s described as slender, toned, with white blond long hair, large grey eyes, pointed chin and small straight nose. Well, many models could fit this description so how is she plain? Because she’s pale? But then she has a makeover and new clothes and wow, she’s stunning.
I just didn’t appreciate the dichotomy gorgeous hero/plain heroine since there’s too much focus on it.
Safety is good.
Hero had some affairs but never serious in the past, apparently he dated models, socialites, pop stars but after he met the heroine there was nobody else.
Heroine is a virgin.
What made me rate just three and not four was the absolute awful hero.
Ok, I admit that he eventually changed and became a hopelessly besotted guy, and he apologized and groveled, but maaaan, was he vicious.
And without cause.
The author tries to write what she’s better at. Marriages in trouble. Unwanted bride, and in this case she extended the unwanted to the unexpected child.
The hero and the heroine meet at a party, she’s quiet, shy, mousy, and he is strangely attracted to her, so they decide to have a quickie that ends really bad, basically the worst sex of his life and of hers, since she’s also a virgin.
They part without exchanging numbers, of course and a couple of months later they meet at her stepfathers.
She proposes an arranged marriage, since she’s the heiress and the stepdad is keeping her basically prisoner to exploit her money.
She’s also preggo.
The hero accepts in exchange of the company he wanted to buy from her stepfather, that is basically the company of her mother.
So, both have a personal interest, but he’s quite pissed which I didn’t really understand. He should be grateful that he had a company worth hundreds of millions for free, just to stay married with he for three years, so she can be protected from her stepdad. I didn’t understand his grumpy face, that she described resting grump face, but i would say resting bitch instead, because he had no reason to be rude with her, yet he was.
He’s awful regarding the child, ok it wasn’t planned but man up! He’s 30 something, not 22.
And he keeps being unpleasant to her when she did nothing to offend him.
He tells her she is not to become friend with his family since she’s just a guest, he tells his father she’s plain, a moth, and the opposite of what he wanted as a wife, and he tells her he doesn’t want to have anything to do with the kid.
He’s unpleasant.
He’s also very selfish and self centered, and no, I don’t buy when the author would like us to believe that he was always thinking of other peoples wellbeing since with the heroine when he talks it’s always I, me mine. Me me me me mememememememememe.
It’s always about him, a hat he wants, how he feels and doesn’t feel, what he thinks and everything has to accommodate his feelings.
Jesus.
I must admit I’ve never read such an unpleasant character, such a rude, cold, bratty man.
And yes, emotionless, beside the endless self love and self centered attention he lavish on himself.
I just wished the heroine would have been a bit more forceful, but admittedly she couldn’t do that since she had always been secluded in college and bearding school so I suppose she had to find her own strength. But it would have been very satisfying if she had been a bit catty and bitchy instead of simply staying silent and suck it up. He deserved someone who answered properly, not the poor scared little heroine.
But the angst was great. The story also has a development and the hero changes his ways around her and their kid.
It’s definitely a slow burn, both between the characters and with the unborn kid.
The heroine finds some strength towards the end, but she keeps thinking something is wrong with her instead of simply letting the asshole husband go and do her things.
And the body shaming.
I don’t know why the author keeps reiterating that the heroine is plain, colorless and unremarkable on the looks department, but it was grating my nerves. And how could she be plain? She’s described as slender, toned, with white blond long hair, large grey eyes, pointed chin and small straight nose. Well, many models could fit this description so how is she plain? Because she’s pale? But then she has a makeover and new clothes and wow, she’s stunning.
I just didn’t appreciate the dichotomy gorgeous hero/plain heroine since there’s too much focus on it.
Safety is good.
Hero had some affairs but never serious in the past, apparently he dated models, socialites, pop stars but after he met the heroine there was nobody else.
Heroine is a virgin.
March 28, 2025
5 STARS
When you want a true a-hole MMC, you look no further than Natasha Anders. As a long time fan and reader, she just has this skill of giving you heroes that you love to hate and then hate to love before you just love them. And boy did I love to hate Cade.
Now if you love a modern day cinderella retelling with a twist, this will be your new book crack. Take a wallflower FMC but instead of an evil stepmother, make it an evil stepfather and his two wretched daughters. But while the FMC is a wallflower and hasn't experienced much of life because of her stepfather's cruel bid to keep her rightful inheritance from her, she is no pushover. And if there's one thing I love, is an FMC who is vulnerable, shy, but nowhere close to a doormat.
When Cade spots Fern at an event, effortlessly blending into the wall, there's really nothing about her that should call to him. Yet he finds himself talking to the timid woman. And one catastrophically unmemorable encounter later, she finds herself pregnant with his baby. Fern, while inexperienced and with the odds stacked against her, is determined to get herself from under her stepfather's thumb. So she makes Cade an offer he can't refuse; marry her (in name only) and she will give him the company that he and his father have been trying to negotiate with her stepfather.
Now the one thing that I absolutely love about Natasha's book, is her ability to take an MMC who seemingly has no interest in the FMC to the point you question how they'll be together, and make him fall so hard that the MMC is as shocked by it as you are. And boy oh boy did I love Cade falling deeper and deeper. As much as he fought it, the woman was simply not at all who he underestimated her to be.
He's cruel, and hot and cold, and some of the things that he said to Fern had me wanting to c*ck punch him. But I love and I mean LOVE the way that Fern makes him work for it in the end. She doesn't just turn around and forgive him at the first sign of feelings. As a matter of fact, she makes him prove them at every turn. And I loved that for her.
This was a delicious slow burn full of tension and heartache, emotion and grit. I loved watching Fern come into her own almost as much as I loved Cade helplessness in falling for her.
I love Natasha's brand of angst, and this book brought together everything I love about her writing. It hurt so good and I loved every emotional page of it.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
I refuse to be your crutch. I don’t want to be your friend. Or your confidante. I don’t want to hear about your past, or your future aspirations. I don’t care about any of that. All I care about is getting through this marriage with as little emotional investment—from the both of us—as possible.”
When you want a true a-hole MMC, you look no further than Natasha Anders. As a long time fan and reader, she just has this skill of giving you heroes that you love to hate and then hate to love before you just love them. And boy did I love to hate Cade.
Now if you love a modern day cinderella retelling with a twist, this will be your new book crack. Take a wallflower FMC but instead of an evil stepmother, make it an evil stepfather and his two wretched daughters. But while the FMC is a wallflower and hasn't experienced much of life because of her stepfather's cruel bid to keep her rightful inheritance from her, she is no pushover. And if there's one thing I love, is an FMC who is vulnerable, shy, but nowhere close to a doormat.
When Cade spots Fern at an event, effortlessly blending into the wall, there's really nothing about her that should call to him. Yet he finds himself talking to the timid woman. And one catastrophically unmemorable encounter later, she finds herself pregnant with his baby. Fern, while inexperienced and with the odds stacked against her, is determined to get herself from under her stepfather's thumb. So she makes Cade an offer he can't refuse; marry her (in name only) and she will give him the company that he and his father have been trying to negotiate with her stepfather.
Now the one thing that I absolutely love about Natasha's book, is her ability to take an MMC who seemingly has no interest in the FMC to the point you question how they'll be together, and make him fall so hard that the MMC is as shocked by it as you are. And boy oh boy did I love Cade falling deeper and deeper. As much as he fought it, the woman was simply not at all who he underestimated her to be.
He's cruel, and hot and cold, and some of the things that he said to Fern had me wanting to c*ck punch him. But I love and I mean LOVE the way that Fern makes him work for it in the end. She doesn't just turn around and forgive him at the first sign of feelings. As a matter of fact, she makes him prove them at every turn. And I loved that for her.
This was a delicious slow burn full of tension and heartache, emotion and grit. I loved watching Fern come into her own almost as much as I loved Cade helplessness in falling for her.
I love Natasha's brand of angst, and this book brought together everything I love about her writing. It hurt so good and I loved every emotional page of it.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
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