Pretty Cruel Villain

House of Cards #3

by Lena Hunt

Maura Matthews is beautiful, sharp-tongued, and utterly uninterested in romance—the perfect contract wife.

Except nothing about her feels like a transaction.

She's an artist who gets paint all over my furniture, laughs at my color-coded schedules, and sees through every wall I've built like they're made of glass.

I see her too. The way she flinches when her father enters a room. How she talks about the future like it's borrowed time—like she knows something I don't.

Something that could shatter us both.

I should walk away. Protect what's left of my frozen heart.

Instead, I have one year to get her pregnant—and one taste of her makes me want to burn the contract and keep her for good.

If my wife thinks I'll let anything take her from me now, she doesn't know what kind of villain she married.

Pretty Cruel Villain is a billionaire contract marriage romance with high-heat, a cold hero who cracks wide open, and a secret that changes everything. It is the third book in the House of Cards series but can be read as a complete standalone.

Genres: Romance, Marriage Of Convenience, He Falls First, Billionaire Romance, Forced Proximity, Dark Romance

416 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 10, 2026

About the author

Lena Hunt is a Canadian author born and raised north of Toronto, which is the setting for her flagship series, House of Cards. She writes angsty contemporary romances with complex characters who bring the spice and banter in spades.

When she isn’t busy writing, she can be found listening to music at an unreasonable volume, wishing she was somewhere warmer, or spending quality time with her chaotic family.

Connect with Lena on Instagram: @authorlenahunt

Follow her on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/lenahunt

Reviews

[Elizabeth Neal]

Thoughts:

1. He's so big that the women he's been with have only been able to take half of him -- a fact he tells his wife in the midst of their first time (and we're told again numerous times). But Maura, of course, can take all of him. *rolls eyes so hard they fall out of my head like I'm in Beetlejuice* Add in that in limited experience has all been meh and it annoys the crap out of me.
2. She can tell the girls -- two of whom she just met -- that she's pregnant, yet he can't tell the guys -- people he's known forever. Wow.
3. The references to something bad happening between the guys and Brinley, Luke's sister, are driving me crazy. I know it's purposefully building up to the big reveal that'll probably happen in her book, but I'm not sure how many of the remaining books, if any, I'll read. Luke, I believe will be paired with Brinley's friend, Eden, yet we know he's a manwhore. Beau and Brinley seem like they'll get a joint HEA and it's highly unlikely he's been celibate since meeting Brinley. Add in that he was apparently part of whatever hurt Brinley when they were younger and I'm not really feeling them together. Maybe I'll KU that book and search for the details on whatever went down -- James made a mental reference to the "Never Have I Ever" game.

[Taylor Gonser · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars? This one was surprisingly pretty good. I feel like it was left kinda unfinished to set up for the next book which was a little disappointing

[Lovelettelore · Rating 5 out of 5]

He needed a color-coded contract; she needed an escape. What neither of them scheduled was falling in love. 🎨📊

📖 Pretty Cruel Villain by Lena Hunt
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶🌶🌶
Billionaire Romance

Tropes
💰 Billionaire MMC
🛡 Protective MMC
💍 Arranged marriage of convenience
👶 Contract baby clause
🩺 Secret illness
🏠 Found family
☀️ Grumpy x sunshine

Maura has always been a pawn in her father's games. A talented painter, she wasn't surprised when he arranged her marriage to boost his business—she was just relieved it gave her a way out. James is a man of strict schedules and cold logic who agrees to the arrangement to take his company to the next level. The catch? The contract requires a baby within the year. What starts as a clinical business deal quickly spirals into deep respect, friendship, and a chemistry neither of them saw coming.

I completely adored this book! The banter was so funny that even my husband noticed how much I was laughing out loud. It was engaging and lighthearted, especially the way they navigated the "duties" of their contract without unnecessary awkwardness. It’s not easy to write a contract marriage that feels this natural, but Lena Hunt nailed it.

Maura is such a beautiful character. Despite the abuse she suffered from her father, her spirit remained bright. I loved the descriptions of her art process—the minerals, gems, and stones she used. She’s incredibly resilient; even when she isn't at 100% due to her illness, she remains optimistic. She just wanted someone to see her instead of her diagnosis, and watching her find that with James was so moving. Plus, her little "tantrums" were actually so cute, especially since James didn't just cave in!

James is the ultimate schedule freak. He’s strict, relentless, and lives by a color-coded calendar. But seeing Maura slowly mess up his perfect lines was the best part. He becomes so protective, giving her the studio space she needs and never complaining about the artistic mess she leaves behind. He really learned how to give her the attention she craved.

Their chemistry starts as a "roommates-to-lovers" vibe and grows into something so much deeper. Their acceptance of one another is a total green flag—no forced drama, just two people learning to fit into each other's lives.

Honestly, my only complaint is that I wanted more! I would have loved an epilogue set years down the line to see them as parents, as that was such a big dream for Maura. I guess I'll just have to dive into the next books in the series to get my fix!

Thank you to The Author Agency and Lena Hunt for this ARC.

[Drea · Rating 3 out of 5]

James didn’t really seem like a villain to me. I didn’t read the previous books in the series so maybe that’s why. Otherwise I always enjoy a marriage of convenience. Especially when the hero finally acknowledges his feelings and drops a “my wife”

[Haleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

I might be in the minority here, but I feel like the impact would've been stronger if this book ended in devastation. With all the emphasis put on her heart condition, it kind of had minimum impact on the story. If we got a devastating ending instead of a HEA it just would've made more sense.

Also, the MMC isn't cruel at all so like what's with the book name. I get the villain part cause of the blogger or whatever but it also isn't accurate.

This book was good. Had the possibility of being great, but ended up being like every other Billionaire romance read. Shame.

[sky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tropes: marriage of convenience/contract marriage, billionaire romance, cold mmc, opposites attract, only soft for her, he falls first, baby contract, chronic illness rep, found family, ceo x artist

I love a marriage of convenience with opposites attract and especially love a baby contract! Unfortunately, this one definitely fell below my expectations.

I really liked both main characters but I didn’t get super strong chemistry vibes from them together. The shift from just a contract marriage to more felt sudden due to the lack of emotional build up. Additionally, I was expecting more of an anti-hero vibe from the mmc with the title of the book and the blurb. Now I haven’t read the earlier books in the series so that assumption is on me.

The main thing that kept me from being fully invested in their story, is that it felt like so much happened off page, especially in the second half. Which is a shame because the story arc had so much potential to me. Also, as a certified spice lover, I found myself skimming a lot of it by 60%. It was really the only way the two connected and with the contract marriage, I wanted some more emotional build up between them outside of sex. There was so much opportunity for angst and character growth and we just never really got those on page discussions in my opinion.

Additionally, I was left disappointed with the chronic illness rep. It felt like we had this build up and a good pinnacle moment of mmc finding out but then it just fizzled out. Lastly, if pregnancy is going to be a main plot point for a romance… I need the birth on page!!

Overall, this unfortunately just wasn’t a hit for me but I can see it working better if you’re already a fan of the series. Especially as the found family with the friendship group is fairly strong.

Thank you to The Author Agency for eARC. Review is my honest opinion.

[Dawn Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

James and Maura’s story started off with the sweetest flashback! I was immediately hooked on this story!

This is book 3 and I enjoyed it so much!

Things I loved:
- James being so feral for Maura - the spice is 🥵
- Maura’s art and the details of how she does it all was super cool
- The found family aspect is so good - I loved the guy and girl group chats!
- James and Maura’s banter about his color coding and schedule obsession
- The support James gives her for her passion of art was perfection

My cons:
- I felt it ended abruptly (I understand the cliffhanger of Peppermint) without an epilogue or even Nate & Cat’s wedding which they were talking about two pages before it ends
- I didn’t like that Maura was not open with James when he let his walls down and she didn’t care to give him an important detail about herself
- No dating - even in a marriage contract there was no how they fell in love really and no big I love you moments to me

Thanks The Author Agency for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Madison Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW! Available now on KU!

Thank you so much Lena Hunt and The Author Agency for the ARC opportunity!

Rating: ★★★★/5
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Tropes: Billionaire MMC, Protective MMC, Secret Illness, Found Family

This was the third book in the House Of Cards Series, and I loved it!

Maura was such a complex character, she had been through so much, no matter what she went through, it never dulled her spirit. Which is impressive, considering her dad is absolutely vile, he treats Maura like a pawn in his twisted games, but that doesn’t stop her from being an absolute badass.

In comes James, a hot, grumpy, billionaire who agrees to an arranged marriage with Maura as long as he can improve him company.. only there’s one small catch.

I loved their chemistry, some of James one liners had me actually near sweating, he could charm the pants off a snake, trust me. This was such a good story, I loved reading about Maura’s resilience and bravery, I can’t wait to see what else is to come💜

[boutayna_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I AM SPEECHLESS. I AM GAGGED. I AM IN LOVEEEEEEEEE!
James Keller is my new favorite man. He’s gentle, caring, calm, respectful, and loving—he literally kisses the ground she walks on. I don’t even know what more you could want, because James probably has it too.
I don’t even care about the plot or anything else (it was great, don’t worry), because James is all I see and care about, honestly 😭
Maura, the FMC, is great as well. She pissed me off sometimes, but she’s so adorable and intelligent.
Might I add that sometimes, when he’s worried about her or struggling to sleep, he listens to her heartbeat and instantly falls asleep 🥹
Honestly, guys, just read it. It’s fun, quick to get through, and a bit sad too, if I might say so myself 😭 (but it’s a HEA, don’t worry).
"I used to think love was just something the world takes from you."……"Then you happened."……"Ask me for forever, Maura, and I'll give it to you."
"You're a masterpiece,"…. "The most beautiful thing I've ever seen."….. "You. Are. Exquisite."

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like the villain wasn't James but was Maura. He was actually so sweet whereas she was kind of a spoilt brat that had tantrums and lied.

Bit bummed that this ended with a HFN and loose threads that will be picked up in the next story.

The sex was pretty hot but towards the end, dare I say that it was too much and I skimmed those scenes 🥱

[❁ lilyreadsromance ❁ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rich woman with a heart problem went into a marriage of convenience with a workaholic rich man, in exchange of her freedom and a baby.

The impact and the possibility of angst was there. It was just the execution that was lacking, I think. With a little bit extrapolation, I think this book could be better.

[Alisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were parts I liked and some that I felt weren’t sussed out enough. The men in these books are a little too immature for my tastes (although this was one of the better MMCs) and the group dynamic doesn’t quite hit for me. Overall not a bad time but also not one of my favorites unfortunately.

[Jennifer W · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually a lot of fun. Mostly smut tho so if that’s not your thing or what you’re in the mood for, read something else 🤭

I did like the characters and seeing James melt for Maura was sweet 🥹 already said it’s mostly smut, but it’s good spice hehe 😮‍💨

[Bri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

[Tatjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5⭐️
2/5🌶

[Anshika Pandey · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book title seems irrelevant to the story.

[ifyouwereannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️ skipped some of the last chapters but overall it was a very good read, that thankfully pulled me out of my reading slump!!

[ForeverBooked · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the preparation, I loved the struggle, I loved the praise and I loved how it was a big hurdle every time……

The Trope List
* contract marriage with a baby clause
* "that's my WIFE" with his whole chest
* found family friend group
* wicked banter
* billionaire "villain" hero with a ruthless reputation
* heroine with a devastating secret
* ice cold control freak × artistic chaos
* he falls first (and fights it the hardest)
* only soft for her
* “good girl" energy meets filthy praise
* the spice really did it for me


Some highlights:

“Tell me,” I urge her, finally. “Nothing you want is wrong, Maura—just negotiable.”
She looks back at me, her gaze full of resolve.
“I will not bring a child into the world with a man who intends to be an absent father,” she declares. “I know better than to expect any love between us, but you will love our child. They didn’t choose a contract relationship, so they deserve a present, loving father—unlike my own. Not holiday-only, not just for cameras. If anything happens to me, James, you have to make sure our child is raised in a warm, loving environment. If you can’t agree to that, there’s no deal.”
She folds her hands on the table and waits as my mind reels. Whatever I expected, it wasn’t that.
If I’m honest, I hadn’t thought far enough ahead to what it would be like when the child arrived. I only thought as far as signing the contract. Maura was the opposite. She’s thinking so far ahead that she’s imagining hypothetical situations that wouldn’t occur until years down the line.


“I'm both. The husband half is very proud of you. The business half wants to know if you've talked to a lawyer and negotiated a commission split with them. You haven't signed a contract yet, have you?”

What about you?” I ask, the spotlight on me suddenly feeling a little too bright. If he looks too closely, he’ll see all the cracks and flaws I know are there. “When's the last time you were passionate about something that wasn't work?”
He's quiet for a long moment. “I don't remember.”
“That's sad, James.”
“Maybe.” He looks at me, and there's something vulnerable in his expression that I've never seen before. “What makes you happy? Outside of painting.”
I think about it. “Rainy days. The smell of coffee, even though I like it decaf. When a song comes on that I forgot I loved. When someone remembers something small about me.” I glance at him. “Lo mein when I'm stressed.”
His mouth quirks. “I'll keep that in mind.”
“What about you? What used to make you happy, before you forgot how?”
“Poker nights with the guys. Watching old movies. When someone laughs at something I say, even though I'm not trying to be funny.” He pauses. “Watching you paint, when you don't know I'm there.”
My breath catches. “You watch me paint?”
“Sometimes. You're...different when you work. Freer. It's like seeing a version of you that no one else gets to see.”
I don't know what to say to that. The admission feels enormous, like he's handed me something fragile and precious.
“I'll try to be that version more often,” I finally manage.
“Don't.” His voice is soft. “Don't change for me. Just…let me keep watching.”
“Okay.”

I was wrong, of course,” I continue. “I wouldn't trade my memories of them for anything in the world. That's how I feel about Maura, now, too. However little time I get with her, I want every second. It’s crazy because of how this all started, but I think…I think knowing her will be worth any future pain.”
Beau blows out a breath. “Damn, man. That’s…that’s beautiful.”
“We’re with you, man,” Luke says, squeezing my shoulder. “Whatever you need. Just say the word.”


While Maura was at the clinic, they ran some blood tests. James and Maura learned that she's pregnant.”
Victor's eyes light up. “Finally. I was starting to think we'd have to scrap the contract.”
“The pregnancy is high risk,” I snap, wanting to burst his bubble. “The doctor said this could be Maura’s first and only pregnancy. The odds are high that something could go wrong.”
“Was the baby damaged?” Victor asks, alarmed. “When she collapsed, did something happen to it?”
My lip curls into a sneer. What a pathetic, shortsighted little pig. Maura is just an object to him, and he's not even smart enough to see her true value. I was foolish to ever imagine I could go into business with a visionless pig like him.
“Can this pregnancy be salvaged?” Victor’s eyes are wide and desperate. “Tell me, Keller! Is there any chance that she can still produce a viable heir?”
“If you ever talk about Maura like that again, you’ll be out of this building and out of this deal,” I snap, my voice ice-cold. “That’s my wife you’re talking about like a womb for hire.”
Victor's face turns cherry red. “How dare you talk to me like that!”
“I'll speak to you however I wish, after you spoke about my wife like some malfunctioning piece of equipment.”
He stands, shoving his chair back so forcefully that it falls to the ground. “If you don't watch your mouth, I'll end the deal right now!” he roars. “Pages doesn't need you.”
“Fine. I'm prepared to end our deal now,” I say coolly, calling his bluff.



The spicy parts *** read at your own risk ***

When I’m halfway inside, I pause.
“This is as far as I'm going today.” I hold myself still inside her, even though every instinct screams at me to thrust deeper. If I’m too rough, she’ll be ruined for the rest of her ovulation schedule and I need to live in this pussy for the next four days.
She raises her eyes, frowning. “Are you sure? Does it feel good enough like that?”
“Good enough?” I laugh roughly. “Maura, you could give me an inch of this perfect pussy and I'd be grateful. You feel like fucking paradise.”
Her inner walls flutter around me at the praise, and I have to clench my jaw to keep from losing it.


Don't wash me away,” I tell her on a whim, my voice rougher than intended. “I want you to feel me for the rest of the day.”
Her eyes darken. “Is that an order?”
“It's a request.” I press a kiss to her forehead. “From a husband who likes knowing his new wife is walking around with his cum inside her.”

[AmyHeartsFiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, but dammit if I didn't enjoy this read. It had an abundance of those "guilty book pleasures" that made me itch to scratch them! Things I know many others hate, but I eat them up like sea-salted caramels (the kind that make you say it like CA-RA-MEL ...as if you're a proper genteel person when really you're just a heathen eating chocolate at 3am!). Give me a "quick to fall balls to the wall" MMC anytime, and if you serve it up with a side of "she's struggling with illness/abuse" drama... I'm salivating. Can you say famine?... Because, lord, that horseman of a trope has me starving every time I encounter it. I don't understand why I get these cravings for this kind of drama, but I do. If I'm in line at a book buffet, my plate is getting loaded with possessive men, FMC's in a bind who can save themselves but can let their men save them too, found family dynamics, FMC's who are encouraged to live their dream loud,...and then go ahead and give me some banter for dessert.

Our FMC read as very neurodivergent to me, and I adored her character. She had a very pragmatic, no-nonsense outlook on her life that was riddled with accepted abandonment issues, but hello, character growth—come to mama! She offered no apologies for being herself, recognized her moments for growth, and fully "carpe-diemed" the EF out of them. She knew what she wanted, drew a line to shorten the distance to get there, and just walked through the book like a boss. Did she have an absolute toddler tantrum? Yes, she did. Did she learn how to communicate? Yes, she did. (Even if this was my least favorite part of the book, but more on that later).

Our MMC also read as very neurodivergent to me... (Hello, OCD—it's me, Margaret). I giggled at his color-coded schedule and insane self-organization and fell in love with how she bantered with him about it. Then this man did what? He went outside his schedule to O-face her to high heaven, and I lived for it. I go feral for men who go against the grain of their very being for their woman. Nothing screams "you before me" louder than a workaholic who cancels a meeting to give his girl some smexy time (unscheduled!!).

What worked for me with these two, was the opposites attract rule. They emobodied the idea of "puzzle pieces fitting together" to make a whole picture. Where one had a weakness, the other had a strength, and the team-work made that dream work!

Now, my 1-star holdout was her holding back the truth of her illness from him. There was not an adequate grovel for this, imo—having a shortened life expectancy due to health reasons and then agreeing to make someone else a parent before you disclose that is so profoundly wrong. Taking on single parenthood is a journey that is not for the faint of heart, so he should have been given the full details of it before he signed on the dotted line. Had she been honest up front, this would have been a 5-star for sure, but I cannot get behind lying by omission on something of this magnitude.

So yeah—if you're looking to feel your feelings in big ways, don't mind marriage of convenience, soak in drama where they both rescue each other, and giggle at the banter along the way, I recommend this as a fun quick read. Happy reading!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third instalment in the House of Cards series, an interconnected set of standalone contemporary romances which introduces James Keller as the supposed ‘Pretty Cruel Villain’ of the title. However, he never quite lives up to that description. From what we learn about his past, James actually had a loving and stable childhood with parents who clearly adored both him and each other until their tragic death in an accident. By that point, though, he seemed old enough to fend for himself, and as an adult he has gone on to become a successful businessman. For reasons that initially seem more practical than emotional, he agrees to an arranged marriage with Maura Matthews to secure a business deal with her father. Maura’s father, on the other hand, truly earns the title of villain. He treats his daughter more like a commodity than family, even if he’d possibly consider her a loss leader. In his eyes, her only real value lies in her ability to produce a grandson who can one day inherit the family business. Ironically, the arrangement suits Maura in her own way. Desperate to escape his suffocating control, she also dreams of having a child, and marriage to James offers her a path toward motherhood. It also provides an added layer of protection, as James would be able to protect any child they had from her father if she were no longer around, something that becomes more significant especially since Maura is hiding a secret that her father has deliberately kept from the other party involved.

Overall, this was a solid addition to the series. James and Maura share clear chemistry despite being complete opposites. James thrives on structure and routine, with the only colour in his life coming from his meticulously colour-coded schedules, while Maura, as an artist, surrounds herself with creativity and vibrancy. Their initial ‘meet cute’ was a particularly charming and sweet moment in their story and one that clearly left a lasting impression on Maura, becoming one of her happiest memories, even though she didn’t recognise James as the same boy she had befriended, even if only briefly years earlier. While I would have liked to see a little more conflict between the main characters, but the story is still well written and engaging. It blends moments of tension with emotional depth, creating an entertaining and satisfying read. Best of all, the true villain ultimately receives the comeuppance he deserves. My only real criticism is that I would have loved an epilogue set further in the future, especially given the importance of Maura’s secret but perhaps as the series progresses we’ll find out more.

[BookishMarineMama03 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better and better! Pretty Cruel Villain by Lena Hunt is book three in the House Of Cards series and it’s soooo good! Hello, a new trope opened for me. I never knew I would love the billionaire contract marriage to have a baby trope, but it’s so freaking good! Give me a grumpy, hot billionaire and the sweetest and sassiest fmc, add in hot chemistry and a secret that changes everything and I am hooked! You really need to read this series!

Maura has spent her entire life being moved around like a chess piece in her father’s grand plans.She’s such a talented artist with a quiet strength, she isn’t shocked when he negotiates her future away in an arranged marriage to secure a business advantage. If anything, she’s grateful because at least this deal offers her an escape. This girl is strong, she has dealt with her heart condition her whole life, always wondering how long she has. She is sassy and independent. But she also truly has NEVER been loved, never been cared for or praised and it’s heartbreaking!

James is all discipline and precision, a man who runs his world on structure and strategy. His color coated schedules down to the second cracked me up! He agrees to the marriage for one reason only, to grow the company his parents dreamed of. There is one catch from Maura’s dad in the contact, there must be a baby within a year.

What begins as an agreement, cold and carefully outlined, slowly shifts into something neither anticipated. Respect grows, friendship and hysterical banter begins. And beneath it all, a heat truly sparks. The “sessions” become so much more than just making a baby. These two have instant chemistry and connection. And heat, hello, this man's mouth, yes please!!

And I LOVE the found family in this book. James and his group of friends and their women just come together and embrace each other so perfectly!

This one is my favorite in the series! I loved how they were real and raw and vulnerable. And the secret they shared, such a sweet surprise. I know who I want as the last two couples and I can’t wait! Read this series now, still two more books to come!

Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

❤️ Billionaire MMC
❤️ Protective MMC
❤️ Arranged Marriage of Convenience
❤️ Contract Baby Clause
❤️ Secret Illness
❤️ Found Family
❤️ Grumpy x Sunshine

🩷Thank you to Lena Hunt and The Author Agency for my arc!

[Emily Knaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I live for a “my wife” moment and Pretty Cruel Villain absolutely delivers that and so much more! Loved how two polar opposites could fit so well and find true love when they least expected.

What starts as a contract marriage between James and Maura turns into so much more. Maura brings so much joy, spontaneity, and color to James’ life of structured efficiency. She turns his scheduled life upside down, and by the end he wouldn’t have it any other way. James may come off as cold, aloof and the villain of his industry but he absolutely melts for Maura. Their sexual attraction is never a question. Both are instantly attracted to the other and things only get better as their feelings deepen. I blushed A LOT, like a lot, a lot. James has a freaking way with words.

“Leaning against her ear, I whisper, “I’m going to do it all, wife. I’m going to live out every fucking fantasy you let me.”

The chemistry between these two will blow your mind. I almost combusted from James’ dirty talk and praise; it’s always the quiet ones, indeed. I loved how cherished and precious Maura felt to James; this is the first time she’s ever felt truly seen and valued for just being herself. She’s an insanely talented artist and seeing James proud of her was so freaking sweet. Honestly, his use of “my wife” in the many varieties we see in this book is an absolute standout use of the trope.

“I’ve been waiting all day to touch this exquisite body. To give my wife everything she fucking needs.”

Maura is beautifully brave and resilient. She’s always felt trapped under her father’s control and so this marriage is her way out. Maura has always wanted to be a Mom, so she enters this marriage to have a loving family of her own. She never expects to feel so much for James. He is literally in awe of her.

“The artist who made those earth-shattering, awe-inducing paintings is my wife. Which means that tonight, I’m the one who gets to feel her fall apart on my tongue and my cock.”

There’s a few twists and secrets that came out the longer they spend time together. There’s a full circle moment at the end, the most kismet of encounters that just felt perfect for these two.

James & Maura will absolutely live rent free in my mind. The spice is utterly addictive and the emotional connection is the center of the story as they navigate their feelings. It’s the perfect balance of heat and heart.

A huge thank you to Lena Hunt & The Author Agency for the early copy!

[Alison turton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty Cruel Villain starts as nothing more than a marriage contract with a baby clause built right on in there, with both Maura and James set to gain something from their somewhat rigid deal.

Having grown up with an often cruel and dismissive father, Maura is desperate to break free from the cage that she has lived in for all of her life so far. She wants the chance to truly experience life, to live, to fly free. And most importantly, to have a baby. Desperate for a child she happily agrees to marry the somewhat elusive, and serious seeming James hoping that if nothing else, she will escape from the brutal and oppressive weight of her father and his expectations.

James has had everything that he loved ripped away once before, and is unwilling to take a chance on it happening again. Thats why when Mauras father approaches him with the contract, he easily agrees. Giving him deal he needs in order to continue to grow his company while also keeping his new contract wife at arms length. Protecting his heart from being damaged again.

James takes organisation to a level that absolutely seems not only excessive but also obsessive. So when Maura explodes into his life in the most beautifully chaotic way it’s certainly something of an…adjustment. On paper the pair couldn’t be more different. But, despite just how determined James is to keep Maura in her perfectly contained box with strict boundaries and structure. Right down to scheduling their “meetings”. He should have realised that sometimes chemistry can’t be controlled and anyone with a heart as pure as Maura’s doesn’t fit in any kind of box.

Despite James’ determination to keep their relationship as nothing more than the contract that they signed. He certainly refers to her as his “wife” often enough for it to be declaration. One that can’t be denied. Slowly, over time they extend the boundaries written in their contract. To the point that it’s easy to forget that such a contract ever even existed.

This was a fantastic story, filled with love and healing and interspersed with humour from some interesting side characters that can only hope we will see again in future books. I also loved the way that their love story developed at a truly natural pace. I’ve got to say I truly enjoyed the story and would absolutely recommend.

[Nova McCormack · Rating 4 out of 5]

So it’s my wedding day… sigh.

Welcome to a classic arranged marriage to a billionaire, part of a happy little corporate merger. The contract has been signed. I have the white dress. This was never about love anyway. Walking down the aisle is just a formality.

I need to get away from my father. I want a child to love in a way I never was, even if my husband’s love is purely transactional.

Oh, and my husband? A CEO-billionaire robot. I mean… he’s a hot robot, so at least I’ll have something pretty to look at.

This is my life now, scheduling appointments to see my own husband. But somewhere between the carefully arranged meetings and his perfectly calculated responses, I start to see the thoughtful, attentive, and even possessive man beneath the surface.

And when he looks at me, for the first time in my life,
I feel wanted.

If only I wasn’t keeping something from him. Something that would change everything.
Being with him gave me something I never dreamed of: a life. A future. A heart that finally feels alive.

I want to give him mine completely.
But mine was never built to last.

James was the character I’d been waiting for, and we got a lot of him. And I mean a LOT. He showed up, and he was packing. Not sure if that’s pertinent to this review, but dang, I was here for it. James is the ultimate brooding, bastard-billionaire type. He’s sworn off love and connection after the painful loss of his parents locked his heart down. Instead, he’s poured everything into their dream, building a company they would be proud of, but completely losing himself in schedules and rules that control his every waking minute. He’s forgotten there’s a life outside of work… until this storm of an artist disrupts his peace, bringing color and vibrance back into his black and white world.

Maura’s life has never truly been her own. With a father who sees her more as a bargaining chip than a daughter, she’s spent her life locked down under his thumb. Living with a heart condition means she also knows her time may be limited, along with the anxiety and pressure that come with that reality. This marriage is her chance out and her chance to become a mother. All she truly wants is to love and to be loved in return. What she never expected was this stiff, stoic man beginning to open up, revealing an attentive, sarcastic side, someone who truly sees her and appreciates her.

Watching these two connect was so well done. The beginning of the book moves quickly, but their relationship develops naturally. They slowly come to an understanding, evolving quietly from strangers to friends to something much deeper than either of them expected. Seeing James open up a part of himself he thought was long gone, often without even realizing it, was beautiful. He begins making room for her in his life, finding time for her, spoiling her, and simply wanting to make her happy. He gave us all the growling “my wife” and “good girl” moments you could want. He doesn’t quite know what to do with this bright, vibrant woman who’s suddenly in his world, but he quickly feels the pull and the need to bask in her warmth, and will do anything to help her shine even brighter.

And then there’s Maura. Watching her finally feel valued and cared for was incredibly moving. This chaotic artist, full of life and spontaneity, slowly shows him what living could actually look like. What their life together could be. Ugh… it was absolutely perfect.

Thank you to Lena Hunt and The Author Agency for this gifted ecopy!

[Rayya O'Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It turns out all the Villain needed, was a strong wife to put him in his place"

4 stars for me. I devoured this in one sitting.

This book is everything! James Keller, the DIVINE man that he is. Rough around the edge, cold and calculated. The media has painted him out to be this cruel villain manipulative mastermind. But is he? He may be a little of those things but beneath that he is a man who is cautious and respects boundaries like noone I've read before! I think I may be in love with this man. His possessiveness, his fierce love, and his many layers. Plus?? This man is so tentative with her during their intimate scenes. I can read spice with the best of pokerfaces most times, but this man? HOLY SHIT. Had me blushing, squealing, and kicking my feet to no end. The spice is realistic, he made sure to work her/warm her up, the care and tenderness about it. The praise. The man has a filthy mouth on him. Everything about it is *chefs kiss* DELICIOUS.

Maura? She's a fantastic FMC, shes strong willed, strong minded, fierce and sassy. She knows what she wants, how to get there and how far shes willing to go. She's a messy artist but her talking about her art and explaining how she does things, was honestly one of my favourite parts. Shes incredibly passionate about the things and people she loves. Shes sassy and has banter, her banter even rubs off on our MMC! Despite the way shes been treated and everything she has to deal with every day, she doesnt let it deter her or turn her into a cold person. She truly is admirable.

There is a found family trope that I adore too, the women from previous books and her best friend Brinley, not to mention James. Something about finding and making your own family where you're safe and loved and full of warmth, is amazing to me.

Thank you to Lena for another fantastic book with characters that are easy to love. And honestly, I fell deep for these two.

[Akku · Rating 5 out of 5]

• 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 5✨
• 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 - March 10, 2026

• 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 -
- marriage of convenience
- billionaire romance
- he falls first
- childhood connection
- possessive/protective MMC
- only soft for her
- touch her & die energy
- grumpy x sunshine

• 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 -
Pretty Cruel Villain is an emotional billionaire romance about a contract marriage built on a baby clause. Maura needs security and wants a child before her fragile heart runs out of time. James needs an heir to secure his empire. What starts as a cold agreement slowly turns into something fierce, protective, and heartbreakingly real. Secrets unravel, health risks rise, love grows in the middle of fear.
First of all..why is this called Cruel Villain when James is literally the greenest forest billionaire I have ever read in my life 😭
This man was supposed to be cold, ruthless, strategic.
Instead he is protective, devoted, soft only for her.
The title fits because the world sees him as cruel and his enemies see a villain. But with Maura he is gentle hands, steady voice, forehead kisses, hospital floor breakdowns. He chooses her over power. Over legacy. Over everything. And that is powerful love.
I loved that this story was not just about a billionaire deal. It was about time, fragile health, and the fear of losing someone too soon. The hospital moments hurt in the best way.
James falling first and falling hard was everything. His possessiveness felt protective and earned. He was intense but he listened. Powerful but he knelt for her.
Maura’s strength was quiet yet strong. She knew the risks and still chose love and motherhood. That bravery made this story shine.
The childhood pinky promise reveal melted me. It made their love feel destined but natural.
This book made me emotional, soft, stressed, and obsessed at once. The balance of angst and tenderness was perfect. Dramatic yet grounded. Intense yet intimate.
Thank you so much the author agency for the free ARC.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

ehhhhhh. i usually like a marriage of convenience kind of vibe but this one was frustrating. until like 70% of the way through the book, the only time we really see them actively connecting and liking each other is during sex, which is honestly kind of meh in this book. there’s a lot of it, there are some hot moments of dialogue, but honestly eventually it feels repetitive and tiring.

this book is also rough with the characters. james is mostly fine but it’s very much set up that he’s lost a lot of his personality and optimism and spontaneity from when his parents died, and while he does appreciate maura’s chaos and brightness by the end of the book, he doesn’t really develop any of his own. he’s mostly kind of flat and unaffected until the end and then all of a sudden he’s head over heels in love. i know i say it a lot, but this is another book where you don’t get to watch a couple fall in love, you get to watch a couple have a lot of sex, and then they just suddenly are in love.

maura was a whole other story. i was trying to give her the benefit of the doubt and empathize with her desire to be seen as trustworthy and healthy and capable without being hovered over or infantilized. however the instant the audience realizes that she’s actively pushing her health past her clearly defined limits WHILE actively trying to get pregnant??? not eating, working too hard, getting dehydrated, and then her whole health scare in greece???? i can’t be rooting for this character to become a mother when she’s so shortsighted and irresponsible with her (already compromised) health while she’s trying to get pregnant. it just makes her seem either selfish or stupid, and either one is bad.

she does recognize this eventually (only after she had a completely preventable health scare that she is solely responsible for) and she does feel guilty, but it’s just another step in the pattern of deeply juvenile behavior (like the money tantrum) that follows her throughout the book.

[Lucrezia Castello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obviously, I thought I was going to read a standalone novel. What did I find? A standalone novel from a series! Ergo, I didn't understand any of the inside jokes.

Maura Matthews did not have a happy childhood. The final blow came in her teens, when she was forced to give up on her dreams. This gave her even more reason to not fight to escape the clutches of her father, the CEO of a well-known app offering books, films, music and much more.

That is, until Victor Matthews needed to use her as a bargaining chip for a lucrative contract with Sequel, a rapidly expanding film company, particularly in terms of adaptations.

Its owner is the Villain par excellence, so named by the press: James Keller, the workaholic hyper-obsessive.

This agreement will, of course, cover economic, fiscal and personal matters for all parties involved.

❓But will this be enough to prevent them from falling into the trap of love?

I must admit that I was slightly sceptical at the beginning of the story. However, as the nuances unfolded, I was introduced to two MCs who were different from the stereotypical Nepo Babies.

Maura is twenty-six, exceptionally creative with a paintbrush, and has a dream that she wants to fulfil before time runs out.

Meanwhile, James, who shows clear signs of OCD and possibly more, has lived a completely pampered life at the hands of both his parents and their employees. However, an ungrateful twist of fate meant that he had to take his loved ones' place at the helm and try to make them proud, even though they would not be around to see their son's great progress.

Although the outcome is somewhat predictable, it is James' reaction to Maura that will bring tears to your eyes and make you wish you could receive the same level of attention in real life🥺

I highly recommend it😍

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maura is an artist with a secret, and a desire to be a mother above all else. When her father, determined to get a male heir, arranges a marriage for her with the cold billionaire CEO of the company he wishes to partner from, she sees it as her way to finally be free of her father. While she isn’t interested in a romantic connection with her new husband, she can’t help but appreciate his small gestures and the details he notices about her. But she knows falling in love isn’t an option, because as hard as it would be to leave a child behind when she’s gone, if she has to leave the love of her life, it will break her.

When James lost his parents tragically, he found it was easier to work than to think about or grieve them. Having grown their dream into a reality was the best way he knew how to honour their legacy. Always reluctant to let anyone get close, he has never considered the thought of getting married before, so when he is offered a contract marriage, with no expectation as love in exchange for a merger with a company he was looking to partner with, he sees it as the perfect solution. What he didn’t expect is that his chaotic wife would weave her way into his cold heart, and when he faces the possibility of losing her, everything changes.

I received an early copy of this book from the author and absolutely adored it! While I enjoyed the other House of Cards books, there is something special about this one. I loved how Maura is able to break James out of his rigidity, making him feel for the first time in over a decade, while James shows her what real love looks like. It is small moments and showing up, and doing the little things to make life better. James and Maura found love in the most unexpected place, and made it forever.

[Brea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty Cruel Villain had me the second I saw “contract marriage” because I already knew I was about to lose all sense of responsibility—and wow, did it deliver. What starts as a very “this is strictly business, please refer to the spreadsheet” arrangement immediately derails when Maura’s chaotic artist energy enters James’s aggressively color-coded, control-freak billionaire life. Watching this man try (and fail) to maintain order while she casually destroys his routines? Comedy gold.
Maura is creative, stubborn, and absolutely refuses to be molded into anyone’s version of “perfect,” and I loved that for her. Meanwhile James is over here acting like emotions are optional… until suddenly he’s obsessed, protective, and dropping “my wife” like it’s his full-time job. Sir, we get it. She’s your wife. You’ve told us. Repeatedly. Please continue.
Their dynamic is chaos vs control in the best way—she brings color into his life, he tries to pretend he doesn’t like it, and then next thing you know he’s rearranging his entire existence around her and calling it “efficiency.” The banter is sharp, the chemistry is ridiculous, and the way they actually communicate? Beautiful. Healthy. Suspicious, honestly.
You get emotional moments that sneak up on you, a found family that feels like pure comfort, and just enough drama and secrets to keep things messy without losing the fun. And James? The quiet ones are always the worst (best), because once that man cracks… it’s over for everyone.
If you love grumpy billionaires who accidentally become wife guys, sunshine heroines who bring just enough chaos, and a marriage of convenience that turns into “this is my wife and I will not be normal about her,” you need this immediately. ⭐⭐⭐⭐