Tall, handsome, and as charming as he is intelligent, on paper, Tomás Ramos has it all. No stranger to hard work, his driven ways helped earn the title of partner at his law firm, giving him everything he could ever want… except for someone to share it with. After pressure begins to mount at work when he’s tasked with securing a high-value deal with a client who refuses to give him the time of day, he decides to do something he hasn’t done in a long time…let loose. But when his path crosses with a stunning and free-spirited stranger, his one night out quickly turns into a passionate one-night stand that has him regretting agreeing to her terms of no names or numbers exchanged. Unbeknownst to him, his luck is about to change when their paths cross again and his mystery woman struts into his office as his new paralegal.And to make matters even more complicated she’s not only the daughter of the potential client he’s been failing to impress… she’s his sister’s best friend from college, Sarina Tesoro. In need of a plus one for her sister’s wedding, Sarina offers Tomás a deal he can’t refuse. Be her date in exchange for an opportunity to deliver his business proposal to her dad in person. It was supposed to be a straightforward mutually beneficial dating arrangement, that is until they decide to up the ante by entering into a marriage of convenience. When the two travel to Sarina’s hometown for the wedding, Tomás quickly discovers there’s a hidden truth behind her feisty exterior and why they needed to get married. One that will require him to no longer fake it, and instead make a decision with real consequences neither of them anticipated. Tomás must either play it safe and go along with their arrangement so he can get what he needs or risk it all to protect the woman he wants more than anything from the man he’s been tasked to impress… her father.
A born and raised New Yorker, N.J. is a Latina romance author who loves to utilize her bachelor's degree in creative writing to write gritty romances that contain strong leading men, and even stronger leading women. Banter, thrills, and twists are key elements in her stories to keep her readers on their toes while making them swoon.
When she's not writing, she's likely jotting down ideas for a future project, lost in a book, or adding to her never ending tattoo collection.
"Resisting Temptation" by N.J. Weeks is sooo good. If you're into books where the MMC is protective as all get out, this is the book for you because Tomás.... OooooooooooooOOOoooOo Tomás! He is so dominant and assertive! He cares about her so much that accepting anything less is honestly an awful idea??? He *worships* her. He pays attention to every single thing about her and loves her despite whatever she may view as a flaw. Sarina (FMC) has a hard time accepting what she is worth. She was constantly raised to second-guess herself because of her horrible father, but remains fiesty and sarcastic despite everything. When Tomás praises her and defends her and comes to her aid, it's all new to her, but she learns that he really means what he says. My gosh, Tomás and Sarina (FMC) were SUCH a good couple! This is a fake marriage of convenience, best friend's brother romance, where feelings become real fast and deep. They have both been dealt crappy hands in life and have gone through their fair share of traumatic life events. I was addicted to this one! The "my wife" moments! The mirror! The way they attempt to overcome the trials and tribulations they have gone through! The banter! The SPICE!!! You're going to be addicted to this book! Once again, THE MIRROR!!!
Thank you to N.J. Weeks and Luna Literary for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Tomás and Sarina were literally everything I was hoping for and I devoured this book! After a hot one night stand, the last thing either of them expected was to see each at work, after Sarina was hired to be his new paralegal. But that tension and chemistry was still very present and I was eating it up. Tomás is down so bad and I loved the moments where he shows her how she should be worshipped.
What to expect: 💙Best friend’s brother 💍Marriage of convenience 💙Opposites attract 💍One night stand 💙Found family 💍Workplace romance 💙Pierced MCs
Firstly, Sarina’s dad can suck it…ugh I’m so thankful she found her true self and could cut them off! She was such a beautiful, smart person but her true shine was hidden by her parents.
Tomás originally had all business as a plan but that quickly changed - he had it so bad for Sarina and I loved how he took care of her. He was protective and caring but then he’d turn around and talk to her in Spanish and my goodness 🥵 He’s pierced ✔️, tattooed ✔️, knows how to move ✔️, wears slutty little glasses ✔️…I mean the picture I have of him in my head is pretty hot.
What started as a marriage of convenience quickly turned into something neither of them expected. I mean they were only supposed to be a one night stand - no numbers or info exchanged. How surprising when Sarina walks in as Tomás new paralegal and how fast things can change! The tension between them is palpable, their chemistry - undeniable. The banter had me laughing out loud and I loved the group chats!
If you like • marriage of convenience • opposites attract• found family • workplace romance • pierced MCs • one night stand - I’d definitely give this one a try! Thank you Luna Lit and the author for the early read! All opinions are my own.
I absolutely devoured Resisting Temptation!! I could not put this down! Sarina and Tomás’ chemistry was undeniable from the minute they locked eyes. NJ gave us the perfect amount of tension, romance, funny moments (the group text was my absolute favorite 😂), and emotion. I fell in love with Lorena and Tino in Indulging Temptation, and now I’m currently obsessed with Sarina and Tomás lol easiest 5’s! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you love
💙 Best Friends Brother 🩵 One Night Stand 💙 Workplace Romance 🩵 Marriage of Convenience 💙 Opposites Attract
Then you need to add Tempting the Heart series to your TBR stat!
Thank you so much NJ for the opportunity to be an arc reader for another amazing book in this series!!
Freaking loved Tomas and Sarina sm I literally read this in 24 hours! From the group chats to the banter, the tension, the characters - it was all perfectly written. This story had it all: family drama, intense chemistry, tension and banter that had me LOL.
After a one night stand where both MC's agree not to exchange names or numbers, Sarina finds herself starting a new job working under Tomas, the junior partner for the law office she's to be a paralegal at. What started off as a fake husband and wife moment the night develops into something more than neither of them were expecting.
Tomas, holy smokes this man is the whole freaking package. Like literally, my perfect man. He was caring, attentive, PROTECTIVE and paid attention to all of Sarinas needs. Oh, and he's PIERCED🍆not to mention he's got tattoos and wears sl*tty glasses AND as an extra bonus the man sweet talks her in Spanish. I swear I felt my heart pitter patter each time he'd sweet talk to her.
Sarina, girrrrrrl if I could come back and be reincarnated I would totally choose you. Sexy, confidant and beautiful inside and out❤️I loved seeing her growth. The way she found her strength to cut ties with her parents and chose herself over her piece of crap family (with the exception of her siblings) who did NOT deserve her was so satisfying to read.
Would I recommend this? A million times yes! I absolutely loved everything about this story. I have nothing bad to say, besides that Sarina's dad is a total and complete a**hole.😆
Thank you LunaLiterary and the author for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review!
Tropes: 💍Workplace romance 💍Best friend’s brother 💍Found family 💍Marriage of convenience 💍He falls first 💍One night stand 💍"My wife" 💍Pierced MC's 💍He 💦 in his pants 💍Thigh tattoos and sl*tty glasses🥵
Tropes: Best Friend’s Brother Marriage of Convenience Opposites Attract Epic “my wife” moment…when her dad disrespects her in front of him One Night Stand… in a room of mirrors Workplace Romance Feisty FMC who hides her pain behind sarcasm Reserved MMC who is a reformed bad boy She’s pierced…and so is he Switchy vibes… good girl / good boy Insta Lust to genuine connection love Thigh Tattoos / Slvtty Glasses “You deserve the world…and I’m going to give it to you” vibes Found Family Slow burn Toxic family drama
Tomás and Sarina were everything! Perfect together! I devoured this book! After a hot one night stand, the last thing either of them expected was to see each at work, after Sarina was hired to be his new paralegal. that tension and chemistry was freakin hot and I was on the edge of my seat with anticipation. Tomás is down so bad and I loved the moments where he shows her how she should be worshipped and desired. The two end up in a fake marriage that slowly turns into something neither of them can resist. But naturally, feelings grow stronger, they must face family drama, painful pasts, and find out if their fake marriage can turn into something real. This book was such a sweet and emotional read. Tomás was everything and completely stole my heart. He was protective, and attentive to Sarina always making sure she felt seen and heard. It’s the little things and he had my heart! I loved Sarina's journey seeing her break free from the people who constantly controlled and hurt her was so satisfying. She grew so much throughout the book, and I loved seeing her build and find her confidence. Their chemistry was undeniable, seeing them be their for each other and build from friendship to something more. With some drama and heartfelt moments I devoured this and would definitely recommend this read!
I loved indulging temptations and I was really excited for this story, Sarina and Tomas deserve the best. I enjoyed the plot even though I felt like it was a bit odd - he meets her at a strip club she’s dancing at because her ex is manhandling her - he tells the man that he’s her husband and they have an amazing one night stand without sharing info like names or contact until the next week when she ends up being his paralegal and ironically, his sisters best friend. This sort of felt like we were cramming too many tropes into one story. But then, suddenly they get married so she can her grandmothers will - but they don’t tell her family but they fake date to her sisters wedding but they are really dating and legally married? The entire story felt forced but NJ can write some great chemistry so the chemistry was there and the actual writing was well written - the story just had so many holes. It’s around 300 pages and 50% of it is smut - it’s well written and interesting smut but there were so many different tropes into the plot that I just didn’t love this.
I have questions - so this is all marked as a spoiler
Sarina’s brothers have her back at the end but never stood up for her before hand - why?
What’s the likelihood that Tomas would know the lawyer of the will when he practices in NY but the lawyer lives in Colorado?
If she’s a paralegal and took the law SATs exam - why is she a stripper?
If the man at the club knew she wasn’t married, because he was her ex, why did he go with the story?
Why did they pretend date at the wedding when everyone knew they were legally married?
Why was the scene where she told her dad off so oddly timed and more so, why did Tomas and her brothers suddenly own everything?
If I’m being 100% honest - This is a 3.75/5 for me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I was so excited to be able to continue this series and receive this ARC!
First I was obsessed with Tino and Lorena’s story and was so looking forward to Tomás and Sarina’s. I cannot wait for Dante and Gabriella though I been eyeing them since book one 🤣 please put me out of my misery I need them!!!
This was such a fun and quick read. Loved how sweet and perfect Tomás was. I kept trying to find something wrong with him. (Sorry but no ones perfect and that goes for all my fictional boyfriends too) I guess he was just too nice 🤷🏻♀️ Like if I could create a perfect man, then N.J totally knocked it out of the park because he was it!!
The way he took care of Sarina’s needs and chose to empower her instead of dimming her light was swoon worthy. Add a pierced 👀 you know what and thigh tattoos and I mean he can’t get any better than that.
Sarina was such a boss babe! I loved her energy and how feisty she was. Her sarcasm was top notch. The humor both characters shared was everything. And my girl also had some hidden piercings 😉
Oh and I think books with group chats are top tier 🙌🏼
~Tropes~ 💙Best Friend’s Brother 💍Marriage of convenience 💙Opposites Attract 💍Epic “my wife” moment… when her dad disrespects her in front of him 💙One night stand… in a room with mirrors 💍Workplace romance 💙Feisty FMC who hides her pain behind sarcasm 💍Reserved MMC who us a reformed bad boy 💙She’s pierced… and so is he 💍Thigh tattoos/ slvtty glasses 💙”You deserve the world… and i’m going to give it to you” vibes 💍Found Family
• 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 - - fake marriage - marriage of convenience - workplace romance - protective hero - found family - slow burn romance - toxic family drama
• 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 - Tomás Ramos never expected one impulsive lie to change his life. After claiming to be Sarina's husband to protect her from an uncomfortable situation, the two end up in a fake marriage that slowly turns into something neither of them can resist. As feelings grow stronger, they must face family drama, painful pasts, and the question of whether their marriage can become something real. This book was such a sweet and emotional read. Tomás completely stole my heart from the beginning. He was protective, caring, attentive, and always made sure Sarina felt seen and supported. The little things he noticed about her made me melt every single time. Sarina's journey was one of my favorite parts of the story. Watching her slowly break free from the people who constantly controlled and hurt her was so satisfying. She grew so much throughout the book, and I loved seeing her find her confidence. The fake marriage trope was done really well because the relationship developed naturally. Their chemistry was undeniable, but what I loved most was the trust and friendship they built along the way. The emotional moments hit just as hard as the romantic ones. There was plenty of family drama, heartfelt moments, and swoony scenes that kept me invested from start to finish. Tomás was truly the definition of a green flag hero and I adored every moment he spent taking care of Sarina. Thank you Lunaliterary for the ARC!
4.25 ⭐️ Resisting Temptation was a fun, emotional romance that blended swoony moments, genuine character growth, and plenty of chemistry.
I'm always a fan of a marriage of convenience, and this story reminded me why. Tomás and Sarina's relationship starts with undeniable attraction, but what kept me invested was watching that attraction slowly grow into trust, respect, and something much deeper. Their dynamic felt natural, with plenty of banter, tension, and heartfelt moments along the way.
Tomás was such a refreshing MMC. He's reserved, dependable, and protective without overshadowing Sarina, who is witty, resilient, and easy to root for. I appreciated that both characters had room to grow, making their relationship feel earned rather than rushed.
One of my favorite moments came early in the book with that "my wife" scene. It's one of the advertised tropes, so I won't spoil the context, but from that point on I was completely hooked and couldn't wait to see where their journey would take them.
The spice was well balanced with the emotional depth, adding to the relationship instead of taking away from it. I also really enjoyed the found family elements and the way the story explored healing and vulnerability alongside the romance.
While there were a few moments where I wanted certain conversations to happen a little sooner, they didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the story. If you enjoy marriage of convenience, best friend's brother, workplace romance, protective heroes, found family, and romances that balance steam with heart, Resisting Temptation is definitely worth picking up.
ARC Review: Resisting Temptation by NJ Weeks Thank you to NJ Weeks for the ARC.
Tomás Ramos is proof that competence is sexy, but competence in sl*tty glasses while whispering dirty things in Spanish? Absolutely unfair. This man is successful, protective, attentive, and so hopelessly gone for Sarina that he never had a fighting chance. Watching him go from one night stand participant to fake husband to fully devoted husband had me grinning like an idiot. THE MAN DROPPED A "MY WIFE" at 7%. THE MAN YOU ARE, TOMAS!!
And Sarina? I adored her. Beneath the confidence and sass is a woman carrying years of hurt and impossible expectations. Watching her finally choose herself, build boundaries, and accept the kind of love that doesn't ask her to shrink was deeply satisfying.
The chemistry between these two was scorching, but what kept me invested was the tenderness. Tomás doesn't just want Sarina. He sees her, supports her, and reminds her over and over that she deserves to be cherished. A man worshipping his wife, even before she believes she's truly his wife? Sign me up every single time.
The banter was sharp, the friend group chats were chaotic perfection, and the found family moments warmed my heart. Also, Sarina's father can respectfully kick rocks.
NJ Weeks continues to write romance heroes who are dangerously close to ruining real men for the rest of us. WHERE ARE ALL THE DOWN BAD SIMPS IN REAL LIFE?!
Tropes: 💍 Marriage of convenience 💼 Workplace romance 🌞 Opposites attract 💙 Best friend's brother 🔥 One night stand ❤️ He falls first 🏡 Found family 💍 "My wife" energy 😏 Protective MMC 🕶️ Sl*tty glasses appreciation society
First things first, how do i get into the group chat?! The banter between the whole cast had me laughing out loud from start to finish!
Now, onto the good stuff: Tomas and Sarina. Woooo what a time!! Their story kicks off hot and heavy right from the start, and as a spice lover, I was hooked immediately. That mirror scene?! I was clutching my pearls! Tomas is the ultimate golden retriever book boyfriend. Protective, supportive, loyal. He had me wishing I was Sarina, LOL. I also loved that he knew exactly what he wanted from the very beginning and never wavered. Not even once.
My heart hurt so much for Sarina because she constantly second guessed herself. And honestly, who could blame her after the way her family treated her her entire life? Even with all that, I loved her spunk and personality. She had some one liners that I'm still thinking about!
Now, Sarina's dad can absolutely catch these hands because what do you meannnnn you can't even acknowledge your daughter when she's speaking to you?! And don't even get me started on her mother standing by and doing nothing. SMDH.
My only small critique is that the ending felt like it wrapped up the main conflict a little too quickly, and the epilogue stretched on a bit longer than it needed to. I also would've loved a bit more backstory on Sarina's brothers because the mafia trope eats every single time! That being said, I'm already counting down to the next book. I'm excited to see what happens with Gabriella and Dante!
Thank you so much Luna Literary and N.J. Weeks for the e-arc!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
tomás ramos is a dobermann to everyone else and a golden retriever to sarina and i will not be taking questions 🖤📚 one impulsive lie. a fake marriage. and a man who noticed every single little thing about her and i was GONE. fully feral. completely unwell. the my wife moments. him worshipping her. the way he made sure she always felt seen and supported. i was melting into my seat on every single page 😭🔥 and sarina?? so real and so relatable. the bottling, the passive behaviors, the hard time believing compliments as truth — if you’ve ever been around narcissistic dynamics you are going to feel this one deep in your chest. this book held that truth so gently and i loved her for it already loved this series after tino and lorena but tomás and sarina hit completely different. now i’m just sitting here desperately eyeing dante and gabriella because i have been waiting since book ONE and i need their story YESTERDAY 👀
Things to know workplace romance, found family, best friend’s brother, latinx leads, one night stand, both pierced, attorney x paralegal, fake dating to marriage of convenience romance includes: Sexually explicit scenes, profanity, use of/reference of recreational drugs (marijuana), alcohol consumption, mention of parental & grandparent death (off-page, cancer related), parental illness (autoimmune, MG), gaslighting, manipulation & misogyny.
Great opposites attract, best friend’s brother, marriage of convenience romance. Second book in the Tempting the Heart series. Can be read as a standalone, but I would start with Indulging Temptation both to get some background to the story, but also because Indulging is an amazing book.
I loved this book! Both Thomás and Sarina were interesting characters and I really enjoyed their character and relationship development. And the my wife moments and him worshipping her 🔥 Seriously! Tomás was this dobermann to everyone else, but an adorably sweet golden retriever to Sarina.
The workplace romance aspect worked well and the plot kept me hooked. The tension, the banter, the spice, and who wouldn’t want a man who will literally crawl to you 🫠
The group chat / text conversations made me laugh and I loved the found family type of friendships between the characters.
Of course I loved seeing Tino & Lorena from Indulging Temptation, and I can’t wait to read book 3!
“I think we’re a little past what I’d prefer since calling you Mr. Armani would raise some questions, and I don’t think calling you papi would be office appropriate.”
I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.
A marriage of convenience, a forbidden spark, and a best friend’s brother romance? Say less. 😍🔥
Resisting Temptation had everything I love in a romance: undeniable chemistry, emotional tension, witty banter, and two characters who start with an arrangement but slowly realize their feelings are anything but fake.
Tomás Ramos is the perfect mix of ambitious, charming, and protective — the kind of hero who thinks he has everything figured out until Sarina walks back into his life and changes the rules. 💙
Sarina was such a refreshing heroine — fierce, independent, and hiding a vulnerability beneath her confident exterior. Watching their relationship evolve from a convenient deal into something deeper was absolutely addictive.
The best friend’s brother trope, fake dating, workplace tension, and marriage of convenience all blended beautifully together. The slow unraveling of secrets and the emotional stakes kept me turning pages because I needed to know if they would choose the safe path or risk everything for love. 💍✨
A heartfelt romance about trust, second chances, and finding someone who makes pretending impossible. ❤️
Favorite tropes: 💍 Marriage of Convenience 🔥 Best Friend’s Brother ✨ Fake Dating ⚖️ Workplace Romance ❤️ Slow Burn Chemistry 🫶 Emotional Healing
I honestly don't even know where to begin because this book left me completely speechless. From the very first pages, I became obsessed with Tomás and Sarina. Their chemistry was absolutely addictive, and I couldn't put this book down.
What stood out to me the most was Tomás. The way be constantly protected, defended, and stood up for Sarina had me swooning the entire time. He wasn't just protective, he genuinely cared about her, respected her, and always made sure she felt safe and valued. Every interaction between them made me fall harder for their story.
The banter, the tension, the marriage of convience vibes, were all perfectly balanced. I found myself completely invested in their relationship and rooting for them every step of the way.
And can we talk about the spice?! 🔥🥵 It was HOT. Every scene had incredible chemistry, but the mirror scene 🤭 The fact that Tomás had a glass mirror on the ceiling? Yeah...I was okay. The tension, the passion, and the way these two connected made those scenes unforgettable.
The book had me smiling, swooning, blushing, and completely obsessed from start to finish.
This is the second in the series and a marriage of convenience romance.
N.J Weeks definitely knows how to get your attention in this new series.
While I still think the first in the series was my favorite, this new addition to her new series does not disappoint.
It starts off with a one night stand, then a work place romance, into a marriage of convenience.
Sarina and Tomas are straight 🔥 From the moment they meet, all the way to the end of the story, this couple melts off the page.
They are not just hot though, they are also very sweet. Tomas is a perfect example of a man that is listening, who wants to hear what others need and to make life fair for all. Sarina is learning to stand up for herself and understand the loves she deserves.
We get to see more of the Puerto Rican family from the 1st book in the series, and as a Puerto Rican woman myself , I love the nods to the language and heritage.
The storyline itself was a bit lacking, a lot seemed to be going on around them that I was a lot more interested in. Such as the weed resort, or mafia side of her family.
Definitely a fun and easy read, and I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
This might be, dare I say, the most I have ever related to a book character. Specifically Sarina's dynamic with her family. At times that could make it difficult to read because it felt so real. I love that her siblings and Tomás don't let her downplay everything her dad has done. She felt like she didn't deserve love, but they all showed her that she did and what she was capable of.
Tomás seems to struggle with guilt from a promise he made to his father before he died. If he gives any attention to something other than the career he uses to support his mom, then he feels like he's too distracted. One thing he does really well though is know how to treat a woman with respect. Even when Sarina was just a stranger he helped at a club, he treated her with the common decency she deserved.
A super busy attorney and a dancer/paralegal (who just so happens to be his sister's best friend) find their paths crossing everywhere suddenly. When they decide to enter into a mutually beneficial arrangement, they don't realize they've set themselves up to actually heal these pieces they've been running from for years.
Tomás unexpectedly met "the one" in the last place he'd expect. They fooled around, not slept together or had a ONS, and later he finds out Serina, the exotic dancer, is his new paralegal. 😂 We love a man who says, "It's your time to shine," asks what you want, and is an absolute consent king. That 13%? Hot. 🥵 I love a good mirror scene, tattoos, and pierced men. 🤤 I just wish we'd gotten a proper wedding instead of... that, which was pretty unbelievable according to NY laws.
The spice was a little too low for me and felt rushed. I guess I expected a lot since Book 1 was so overhyped and this one's tropes sounded really promising. The author could've had so much fun with the piercings. 😮💨 I'd also love to yeet a certain someone(s) into a black hole 💀 My 4⭐ is for the found family, and the laughs. It's fast-paced enough that you'll feel like you've hit 90% in the blink of an eye, although some of the conversations dragged a little for me. I really liked what happened around 91%, and the ending was pretty sweet.
If you love attorney × paralegal, thigh tattoos, both MCs being pierced, best friend's brother, and he falls first, you might enjoy this.
This is my honest opinion of the ARC I received. Thanks, N.J. and Luna Literary, for the opportunity.
If you have ever had to deal with a narcissistic parent, then you know the complexities of how it affects you into adulthood. While the story is fictional, the realistic way that Sarina's father is described, hits home. She becomes completely closed off around him, changing and withdrawing from her normal self. I appreciate seeing her emotional growth and boldness come back as Tomás gives her the support she has never had before. She realizes just how valuable her love is and how much she is worth.
Tomás is stuck in a routine, dreaming of a different life. Textbook definition of a golden retriever book boyfriend, but he has a bite when it comes to protecting those he cares about. He constantly puts others before himself. I like how he is supportive, but respectful of boundaries when it comes to Sarina. Almost too respectful if she has any say. His passion used to be driven by grief, but he has found a new purpose.
If there were a spin off in the future about her brothers at the ranch, I wouldn't be mad 😂. They were some of my favorite characters in this book.
Resisting Temptation is the second book in the Tempting the Heart series, and while characters from the previous books are present, it can be read as a standalone.
The story was cute. I like a nice marriage of convenience, and enjoyed the moment when all the pieces fell into place and the characters discover their unexpected ties.
I'd say this start as a fun read, and halfway through we get a bit more depth, with strong found family vibes and an FMC that has finally someone standing up for her.
What didn't completely work for me was the speed with which the relationship developed. I get the casual first encounter, the slight forbidden vibe we get from the workplace, but the switch from lust to love didn't feel realistic. They havek nown each other for such a short time, much of which they didn't even interact, that the whole romance took place in like a couple of weeks. And it felt a bit too much for me.
Overall, this was a fun read, with plenty of good moments, nice spice, and an overall feel-good vibe.
I absolutely adore reading fake dating, marriage of convenience, and all those stories that play with "we'll pretend we're just pretending". I especially liked the chemistry between the MCs which was realllyyyyy hot, but I must admit, I would have loved to love them more individually as well. I just couldn’t connect with the characters, outside of when they were thinking about each other or were together.
One of the things I really liked about this book was the short chapters and the dual POVs. They felt distinct and not just the same voice with a different label. And the character art included in the copy? PLEASE. TOO GOOD!
The plot itself was engaging, and the inclusion of the texts and the group chat (which was really chaotic and I loved it) was a nice touch. I was just really hoping their marriage of convenience would take a different turn as it started and happened really quickly and it was also super secretive. I would have loved to see more of that instead of them fake dating but that's a personal preference.
Let me tell you how excited I was when NJ Weeks announced the release date for Resisting Temptation!! I absolutely LOVED Indulging Temptation and could not wait to get Sarina and Tomás’ story!!
From beginning to end I was glued to this story!! From the jump these two were HOT AND HEAVY. What was supposed to be a ONS with no names quickly turns into SO MUCH MORE thanks to nothing else but FATE.
I loved the characters and how broken they each were. From family centered trauma to emotional detachments - these two have been through it all. And somehow these beautifully broken individuals perfectly compliment each other.
A story of overcoming your fears, of testing your limits and finding your inner strength mixed with LOTS of spice - you are going to love this one!! Two strong latine leads who aren’t afraid to tell (and show) each other what they want. Um, and one hit: there’s a MIRROR ROOM!! Yep… 😮💨 You’ve got to check out Sarina and Tomás! 🔥
I don’t think I was in the right head space for this one. I thought I would devour this one, but I kept finding myself getting distracted. I never thought I’d complain about something like this, but there almost wasn’t enough drama. Basically they had adult conversations and handled everything like adults. I mean I love that for them, but I need more.
It’s also been a while since I’ve read Indulging Temptation, and although you don’t need to I think seeing them in the first book might have helped me feel a little more attached to them.
It was cute and it was good; it just didn’t hold my attention like I thought it would. Again I think it might just be my current headspace so maybe when I re-read it’ll bump the rating up.
It’s a Best Friend’s Brother, Marriage of Convenience trope that is fast paced and steamy. After an incredible one night stand where no names were shared, the last thing either of them expected was to see each other at work, let alone for Sarina to be Tomás new paralegal.
I loved how Tomás showed Sarina how a woman should be treated and helped her see her worth and let’s be honest, a pierced you know what and thigh tattoos are just plain hot!
Sarina is feisty, sassy and I absolutely loved her sarcasm! The banter and chemistry between the two of them was downright delicious, but the emotional moments and vulnerability is just as satisfying.
Overall, this is a swoon worthy story that kept me invested all the way through.
Thank you N.J. Weeks and Luna Literary for the advanced copy.
Resisting temptation was just as amazing as indulging temptation! I absolutely devoured this book. Tomás and Sarina had me hooked from the very first chapter, I couldn’t get enough of their chemistry. Their banter was effortless, the tension was perfect, and watching their relationship grow from an arrangement into something real had me in awe
Tomás is everything! protective, caring, and always making Sarina feel safe and valued. Sarina, strong, independent, and the perfect match for him. Together, they were impossible not to root for.
The found family aspect added so much heart to the story, and the mix of emotion, romance, and humour kept me turning pages. And the spice? Absolutely delivered! Nj weeks really said I’m in my contemporary romance era because she sent it to its knees and made it crawl!
Be still my beating heart! Is this man even real? Do you get them like this? Yes, yes, you do! Tomás is the epitome of men who show up for their women and put them first!
This was such a sultry, yet heart-warming read that I read it in one sitting! It was great to catch up with the Ramos siblings and to see Tomás get his chance at love.
Sarina has had a horrible hand dealt with her parents, but luckily her found family in her friends and siblings could make up for it. “Home” and “family" truly do not require a blood relation, but understanding, love, and compassion. All of which she sure is not lacking anymore.
Read this for a story about a man who has found a new purpose in his life and a woman who has found she wants to be that purpose.
just finished Resisting Temptation & I just wanna say that it makes my heart so fucking happy that my fav author has dipped into contemporary romance. she can write tf out of some dark romance but the way these contemporary ones are coming out, it’s just so refreshing & genius.
I read so much dark romance I always need a palate cleanser at some point so having my fav write books that I literally could read over & over works so well for my brain
I still hold Tino in high regard literally & figuratively… 🤭 but Tomás ohhhhhmygoooddd. we love a man who is a Doberman & completely protective of his woman, his WIFE but that same Doberman being a complete Golden Retriever for her ??? the begging ??? the YEARNING???? THE MFN WHIMPERS
TOMÁS RAMOS THE MAN YOU AAARRRRREEE
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Tomás & Sarina were everything. I loved that Sarina took on a more dominant role. While also learning that it’s okay to be soft and vulnerable at times. It was refreshing to see Tomás lean a more submissive role to give Sarina that control she so much needed. This story was filled with so much trauma but also so much healing.
The way Tomas stood up to Sarina’s father? Top tier! 😮💨 He not only defended her and supported her, but he showed her that she doesn’t need to put up with her father’s bullying just because he’s her father. He showed her that she can be her own person, and be brave enough to stand up her to father and live her life exactly the way she wants to.
Okay, but the group chats! Honestly, these chats are one of my favorite things in this series. And I can’t wait for the next one!
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: ✨Best friend’s brother ✨ Fake dating ✨ Marriage of convenience ✨ Opposites attract ✨ One night stand ✨ Instalust ✨“My wife” moment ✨ Workplace romance ✨ Forced proximity ✨ Feisty FMC who hides her pain behind sarcasm ✨ Reserved MMC who is a reformed bad boy ✨ They’re both pierced 👀😮💨 ✨ Found family
𝐓𝐖𝐬: ⚠️ Sexually explicit scenes ⚠️ Profanity ⚠️ Use of/reference of recreational drugs (marijuana) ⚠️ Alcohol consumption ⚠️ Mention of parental & grandparent death (off-page, cancer related) ⚠️ Parental illness (autoimmune, MG) ⚠️ Gaslighting ⚠️ Manipulation ⚠️ Misogyny
𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬: ⛓️ Oral ⛓️ 69 ⛓️ Phone sex ⛓️ Voyeurism ⛓️ Dubcon ⛓️ Car sex ⛓️ Public ⛓️ Dry humping ⛓️ Good boy ⛓️ Crawling ⛓️Squirting
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Heat: 🔥🔥🔥 POV: Dual - first person Ending: 🩷HEA
I’ve read so much MM lately, it can take me a while to get back into the dynamics of an MF. I found the set up of this a little over the top, and it continues that way, but I got a spicy soap opera feel and settled in for the ride.
I enjoyed the interactions with both Tomás and Sarina in the first book in the series Indulging Temptations, it’s good to see them get their HEA here. This has the heat and swoon of that book but a little less of the attitude. I loved seeing Tomás’ unsureness and vulnerability and what it did to Sarina, how protective he was of her (and others) and how she got to be able to accept that for herself.
An easy read to get caught up in, I completed it in a day.
I wonder what’s in store for Dante and Gabriella next.