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Nothing Special: A Marriage in Trouble Romance
They were the perfect couple until he broke her trust.
Violet became my whole world when I met her on my 25th birthday.
She became my wife on my 26th.
It wasn’t until my 35th that I managed to screw it all up.
Then I had the fight of my life to get back everything I took for granted..
* * *
Ridge Westover was the love of my life.
It didn’t matter that he broke my heart.
My trust.
Our world.
It didn’t matter that he was tricked.
Our love was worth a second chance, but my heart was afraid of what would happen if I couldn’t get over it.
💙 Betrayal & Grovel
🩵 Billionaire Romance
💙 Marriage in Trouble
🩵 Other Woman Drama
💙 (accidentally) Hidden Pregnancy
🩵 Fake Pregnancy
💙 All the Angst
* This book is cheating adjacent. If you do not like other woman drama or cheating books, this one will not be for you. CHECK THE TW PAGE!
Violet became my whole world when I met her on my 25th birthday.
She became my wife on my 26th.
It wasn’t until my 35th that I managed to screw it all up.
Then I had the fight of my life to get back everything I took for granted..
* * *
Ridge Westover was the love of my life.
It didn’t matter that he broke my heart.
My trust.
Our world.
It didn’t matter that he was tricked.
Our love was worth a second chance, but my heart was afraid of what would happen if I couldn’t get over it.
💙 Betrayal & Grovel
🩵 Billionaire Romance
💙 Marriage in Trouble
🩵 Other Woman Drama
💙 (accidentally) Hidden Pregnancy
🩵 Fake Pregnancy
💙 All the Angst
* This book is cheating adjacent. If you do not like other woman drama or cheating books, this one will not be for you. CHECK THE TW PAGE!
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2026
227 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Anne Storm
14 books188 followersAnne Storm lives on the side of a mountain in north Georgia, writes most days, and enjoys the quiet of the wilderness around her.
The reader warning below is written at the beginning of every single book written by Anne Storm and can be found by using the "look inside" feature prior to purchasing!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
♥ Reader Content Warning ♥
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Anne Storm books are not for “safe readers” and may contain triggers. If you are a “safe reader” back away now and find something else!
DO NOT READ IT!
♥
XO,
Anne Storm
˚triggers may include: foul language, violence, cheating, sex between H and h, sex between H and others, h and others, and nudity described on the page. There may also be sexual situations involving chocolate sauce, and disturbing, dark humor. This is a general warning. Something not listed here, might be found inside a book too (some of the things listed might not be found in a particular book at all).
The reader warning below is written at the beginning of every single book written by Anne Storm and can be found by using the "look inside" feature prior to purchasing!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
♥ Reader Content Warning ♥
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Anne Storm books are not for “safe readers” and may contain triggers. If you are a “safe reader” back away now and find something else!
DO NOT READ IT!
♥
XO,
Anne Storm
˚triggers may include: foul language, violence, cheating, sex between H and h, sex between H and others, h and others, and nudity described on the page. There may also be sexual situations involving chocolate sauce, and disturbing, dark humor. This is a general warning. Something not listed here, might be found inside a book too (some of the things listed might not be found in a particular book at all).
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January 21, 202617% in on chapter five and still no betrayal yet. But the foundation has been laid by three separate people including the OW. I’m bored and skimming already.
45% UPDATE
So this is a lot. And while I get the FMC’s stance I unfortunately can’t respect it. You are entitled to feel what you feel but you have to sometimes swallow that shit and support someone else until such time as things are more stable and real decisions can be made.
Basically the OW made a pass at the MMC a year ago. He let it slide knowing he has a promise in place with the FMC to always tell her when things like this happen. Then a year to the day the OW manipulates, drugs and rapes the MMC while exposing it to the FMC and all their friend’s family and colleagues as if he had cheated on her willingly. This is all kinds of fucked up and the FMC is absolutely within her rights to feel betrayed and humiliated. Especially as the truth of the situation hasn’t been revealed yet. However, when it is confirmed, what I can’t stand is that the FMC then BLAMES the MMC for being raped all because he had not followed through on his promise to her about telling her whenever someone has propositioned him.
That is straight up victim blaming. As a woman, I can’t condone this line of thinking at all! I absolutely don’t support this FMC’s assertion that if he had said something a year ago then this would never have happened. NO! One thing has no bearing on the other. Someone who would drug and rape another, would absolutely have found a way to make this happen regardless. They are unhinged. They are the one who is to be blamed and held responsible. Period!
Honestly, how many times have women been told after being raped, “if you hadn’t worn that outfit”, or “if you hadn’t gone out that night”. Or the women who are date raped or by someone they knew and trusted being told, “well you saw those red flags why did you stay?”, or “why didn’t you say anything?”. I absolutely abhor this line the FMC is trying to draw that the MMC is somehow at fault for what happened. We ABSOLUTELY can’t do this! In the real world and in fiction we can’t anticipate all behaviors another person will or won’t do. We can’t just assume everyone who makes a pass at you will escalate to the point of setting you up to destroy your marriage by any means necessary. It’s absurd. He is zero percent at fault and this is why I am currently hating on the FMC. So far she is not showing ride or die wife material.
Yes, the MMC has things to answer for but he should be getting support and guidance and not punished for something that happened to him. She could separate from him and still help him get help to deal with what happened. All of the people in their lives should be helping him right through it. Then as time goes on conversations can be had about everything else. But later if no real resolution can be reached or if the trust is truly lost THEN you end the marriage to each other. But the primary focus should have been handling the rape situation.
Not the “he lied to me for a year, he doubted me with OM his BFF”, not the “he sat and drank with the OW and confided in her instead of talking to me”, BS the FMC is harping on as grounds for divorce. Personally, just like the MMC was butthurt about being ignored on his birthday/anniversary which lead to him sitting and drinking with the OW in the first place and lead to all this mess, the FMC is sulking and humiliated since everyone won’t know what really happened and THAT is why she filed for divorce. Both characters have failed to think things through and have conversations first before acting out.
I also don’t care for the fact that the FMC is now whining that the MMC never fought for her and that he just signed the divorce papers and never chased her down to talk. She asked for space!! I feel like no matter what he did he would never win with her regardless of which way he acted. Don’t ask for shit then be upset when you get exactly what you asked for. That’s on you!
I was a little bored in the beginning because I didn’t need all the setup to get to the betrayal but that’s just my preference. I do feel it could have been a tad shorter. The actual event of the rape happened at the end of chapter seven as FTB. But the whole complete revelations play out from chapter eight through to chapter eleven if anyone wants to skip to the good entertaining bits. Then the divorce happens way too fast and now I’m waiting for OW comeuppance and MMCs redemption and HEA. I’m not sure yet if the HEA will be believable which is what I’d need for this story to work for me. Let me get back to it.
52% UPDATE
I have reached the point where I am now done with the MMC. He has made one stupid decision after the other and now he is allowing further manipulation by the OW to happen. It’s like he has never heard of lawyers before. Like even if he NEVER filed charges that could go public on the OW just so he never has to admit to being SA’d as some men refuse to do, he could have sicced his lawyers on her and buried her in lawsuits and litigation and orders of protection and a slew of other things that he also mentioned! But instead he does nothing. I’m sorry but someone who is supposedly worth billions and has to deal with these same dramas from his client’s, it makes zero sense that he is making every mistake that he should know better to make. Either you are stupid or you’re being stupid in a story like this. It makes it beyond unbelievable when you are both while claiming to be a person of this stature. What I’m saying is that with the MMC’s resources he should be handling all of this drama better. Not this absurdly. Ugh.
67% UPDATE
Now the OW has attempted murder on the FMC and her brother. I always find it funny how the villain always manages such extreme mayhem and never gets caught even when there’s a ton of witnesses and people around. Smh. While I like the OTT nature of this author’s stories they do tend to be hit or miss. I’m feeling this one is a miss for me. The rationale is ridiculous for the MMC and what now appears to be the FMC’s mom as well. We’ll see what happens next.
FINAL UPDATE
So everything above does get answered or addressed. I still felt like it was pretty lame but whatever, it’s the author’s story not mine. It did have an HEA and while nothing was wrong with it as it played out logically where the earlier parts of the story didn’t, I was just over the OTT’ness of the MMC and to some extent the FMC. I honestly finished the book just because I had made it so far and I needed my answers but I was no longer rooting for them. The majority of the book they weren’t even together. The MMC was off trying to handle things in the most half assed way possible and the FMC was alone wallowing and never making any effort to help him or communicate. His rape and the trauma of it are mentioned but it’s more of a side effect instead of as part of all the on page drama. You can’t call this a “no cheating” book and use sexual assault as proof of that but then never really incorporate all the stigma and trauma of it in the actual story. It was simply something that happened that disrupted their lives and relationship. It could have been used to explain away all the MMC’s poor choices after that initial incident. But no. It’s just there but not there all at the same time. Smh.
I am looking forward to the next book of cheating by this author called, midlife crisis something something, lol. As I strongly feel that book will be right up my alley. Either way, I finished this one, I highlighted the hell out of this book and I’ll post those eventually. I also broke down all the major events above for when, where, what happens for those needing more spoilers like me. I hope you enjoy it better than I did but that’s not reflective of the author or the book. It’s just my personal tastes. I buy everything from this author because I like her writing style and enjoy quite a few of her books. This just wasn’t one of them. Give it a shot and make your own judgement. Good luck.
45% UPDATE
So this is a lot. And while I get the FMC’s stance I unfortunately can’t respect it. You are entitled to feel what you feel but you have to sometimes swallow that shit and support someone else until such time as things are more stable and real decisions can be made.
Basically the OW made a pass at the MMC a year ago. He let it slide knowing he has a promise in place with the FMC to always tell her when things like this happen. Then a year to the day the OW manipulates, drugs and rapes the MMC while exposing it to the FMC and all their friend’s family and colleagues as if he had cheated on her willingly. This is all kinds of fucked up and the FMC is absolutely within her rights to feel betrayed and humiliated. Especially as the truth of the situation hasn’t been revealed yet. However, when it is confirmed, what I can’t stand is that the FMC then BLAMES the MMC for being raped all because he had not followed through on his promise to her about telling her whenever someone has propositioned him.
That is straight up victim blaming. As a woman, I can’t condone this line of thinking at all! I absolutely don’t support this FMC’s assertion that if he had said something a year ago then this would never have happened. NO! One thing has no bearing on the other. Someone who would drug and rape another, would absolutely have found a way to make this happen regardless. They are unhinged. They are the one who is to be blamed and held responsible. Period!
Honestly, how many times have women been told after being raped, “if you hadn’t worn that outfit”, or “if you hadn’t gone out that night”. Or the women who are date raped or by someone they knew and trusted being told, “well you saw those red flags why did you stay?”, or “why didn’t you say anything?”. I absolutely abhor this line the FMC is trying to draw that the MMC is somehow at fault for what happened. We ABSOLUTELY can’t do this! In the real world and in fiction we can’t anticipate all behaviors another person will or won’t do. We can’t just assume everyone who makes a pass at you will escalate to the point of setting you up to destroy your marriage by any means necessary. It’s absurd. He is zero percent at fault and this is why I am currently hating on the FMC. So far she is not showing ride or die wife material.
Yes, the MMC has things to answer for but he should be getting support and guidance and not punished for something that happened to him. She could separate from him and still help him get help to deal with what happened. All of the people in their lives should be helping him right through it. Then as time goes on conversations can be had about everything else. But later if no real resolution can be reached or if the trust is truly lost THEN you end the marriage to each other. But the primary focus should have been handling the rape situation.
Not the “he lied to me for a year, he doubted me with OM his BFF”, not the “he sat and drank with the OW and confided in her instead of talking to me”, BS the FMC is harping on as grounds for divorce. Personally, just like the MMC was butthurt about being ignored on his birthday/anniversary which lead to him sitting and drinking with the OW in the first place and lead to all this mess, the FMC is sulking and humiliated since everyone won’t know what really happened and THAT is why she filed for divorce. Both characters have failed to think things through and have conversations first before acting out.
I also don’t care for the fact that the FMC is now whining that the MMC never fought for her and that he just signed the divorce papers and never chased her down to talk. She asked for space!! I feel like no matter what he did he would never win with her regardless of which way he acted. Don’t ask for shit then be upset when you get exactly what you asked for. That’s on you!
I was a little bored in the beginning because I didn’t need all the setup to get to the betrayal but that’s just my preference. I do feel it could have been a tad shorter. The actual event of the rape happened at the end of chapter seven as FTB. But the whole complete revelations play out from chapter eight through to chapter eleven if anyone wants to skip to the good entertaining bits. Then the divorce happens way too fast and now I’m waiting for OW comeuppance and MMCs redemption and HEA. I’m not sure yet if the HEA will be believable which is what I’d need for this story to work for me. Let me get back to it.
52% UPDATE
I have reached the point where I am now done with the MMC. He has made one stupid decision after the other and now he is allowing further manipulation by the OW to happen. It’s like he has never heard of lawyers before. Like even if he NEVER filed charges that could go public on the OW just so he never has to admit to being SA’d as some men refuse to do, he could have sicced his lawyers on her and buried her in lawsuits and litigation and orders of protection and a slew of other things that he also mentioned! But instead he does nothing. I’m sorry but someone who is supposedly worth billions and has to deal with these same dramas from his client’s, it makes zero sense that he is making every mistake that he should know better to make. Either you are stupid or you’re being stupid in a story like this. It makes it beyond unbelievable when you are both while claiming to be a person of this stature. What I’m saying is that with the MMC’s resources he should be handling all of this drama better. Not this absurdly. Ugh.
67% UPDATE
Now the OW has attempted murder on the FMC and her brother. I always find it funny how the villain always manages such extreme mayhem and never gets caught even when there’s a ton of witnesses and people around. Smh. While I like the OTT nature of this author’s stories they do tend to be hit or miss. I’m feeling this one is a miss for me. The rationale is ridiculous for the MMC and what now appears to be the FMC’s mom as well. We’ll see what happens next.
FINAL UPDATE
So everything above does get answered or addressed. I still felt like it was pretty lame but whatever, it’s the author’s story not mine. It did have an HEA and while nothing was wrong with it as it played out logically where the earlier parts of the story didn’t, I was just over the OTT’ness of the MMC and to some extent the FMC. I honestly finished the book just because I had made it so far and I needed my answers but I was no longer rooting for them. The majority of the book they weren’t even together. The MMC was off trying to handle things in the most half assed way possible and the FMC was alone wallowing and never making any effort to help him or communicate. His rape and the trauma of it are mentioned but it’s more of a side effect instead of as part of all the on page drama. You can’t call this a “no cheating” book and use sexual assault as proof of that but then never really incorporate all the stigma and trauma of it in the actual story. It was simply something that happened that disrupted their lives and relationship. It could have been used to explain away all the MMC’s poor choices after that initial incident. But no. It’s just there but not there all at the same time. Smh.
I am looking forward to the next book of cheating by this author called, midlife crisis something something, lol. As I strongly feel that book will be right up my alley. Either way, I finished this one, I highlighted the hell out of this book and I’ll post those eventually. I also broke down all the major events above for when, where, what happens for those needing more spoilers like me. I hope you enjoy it better than I did but that’s not reflective of the author or the book. It’s just my personal tastes. I buy everything from this author because I like her writing style and enjoy quite a few of her books. This just wasn’t one of them. Give it a shot and make your own judgement. Good luck.
January 4, 2026
I honestly think any of my hardcore girls following me here will not like this. It's not free, but I was interested. The one thing I can say is this. I think authors should stop writing about SA of male characters in their books. I don't think the author thought this would have quite the impact it would. It was a shit show of epic proportions with victim blaming after the assault. It was ridiculous actually. I'm super surprised Anne Storm/Christine Michelle thought this would go over well. It's this in a nutshell. Ready? "I know you were SA'd by your assistant, but it's your fault she assaulted you because you didn't fire her when you should have." And "I'm sorry you were SA'd, but I'm divorcing you because you didn't fire your assistant when you were supposed to, and it's your fault you were SA'd." Then we have no communication because the h didn't want it then is mad when H signs the divorce papers because she asks him through family members to do so. Then we have an evil medaling family member tricking people. Overall it was bad and irresponsible writing. I think man haters would love it! I have a beef with you all who are supporting SA of male characters on here and on Wattpad and calling it cheating. Then saying he got what he deserved. But I honestly didn't expect this to come from this author. Maybe I'm making a big deal out of nothing and I'm reading it too deeply. But the language that was used was horrific. I don't know. Maybe someone who has similar tastes to mine can read it and maybe agree or disagree with me. But yeah. This was not good. Do not recommend at all!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2026
It felt quite flat, I really couldn't connect with the characters. Also it felt a little bit written on the go as someone was in a hurry to write down some ideas that just popped in the head. Interesting plot but I felt it was poorly written
January 2, 2026
I'm not sure that I can continue to support this author after this one. I did not completely finish it; to be honest, it's making me sick to my stomach so I have stopped at 43%. Everybody is blaming the H for being 🍇ed.
Spoilers...
His assistant made a pass at him a year prior. He thought (or convinced himself) that she was joking. He did not tell the h about the incident despite promising to tell her every time that happened. Until this incident, he did just that. He did wrong here, not doubt. He should have taken it seriously and fired her then, but he didn't due to going through a lot of assistants prior to this one, which put a lot of pressure and extra work on him. Full stop, he was dumb for this.
THIS DOES NOT MEAN HE IS AT FAULT FOR BEING 🍇PED.
He blames himself. His parents blame him. The h blames him, making the entire incident all about herself, and then files for divorce without a discussion. So far, she hasn't even asked him if he's okay. She only cares about how him being 🍇ed hurt and humiliated her. She says she would have forgiven him for being 🍇ed (um, wtf? 🙃) but she can't because it's his fault it happened since he didn't fire the assistant the year before. What. The. Actual. Fůck.
I realize this is fiction but I didn't think we were cool with blaming 🍇 survivors. I am sick.
H thoughts to himself:
Obviously, she was caught on the video putting something suspicious in my drink. Still… I invited the situation into my life.
Speaking with his parents:
"...you also failed to act and therefore left the door wide open for Fiona to do exactly what she did.”
Then:
“She won’t even hear me out first?” My question was only a whisper.
“Son, your wife had a front row seat to you being intimate with (being 🍇ed by*** fixed it) another woman in front of all your family, friends, and coworkers. Not only that, but then she had to hear about how you could have prevented it and apparently hid the truth that your personal assistant, the woman who probably spends more waking time with you every week than your own wife, had offered you smex before. In all honesty, it’s the latter part that made her follow through with the call to her lawyer last week.”
Spoilers...
His assistant made a pass at him a year prior. He thought (or convinced himself) that she was joking. He did not tell the h about the incident despite promising to tell her every time that happened. Until this incident, he did just that. He did wrong here, not doubt. He should have taken it seriously and fired her then, but he didn't due to going through a lot of assistants prior to this one, which put a lot of pressure and extra work on him. Full stop, he was dumb for this.
THIS DOES NOT MEAN HE IS AT FAULT FOR BEING 🍇PED.
He blames himself. His parents blame him. The h blames him, making the entire incident all about herself, and then files for divorce without a discussion. So far, she hasn't even asked him if he's okay. She only cares about how him being 🍇ed hurt and humiliated her. She says she would have forgiven him for being 🍇ed (um, wtf? 🙃) but she can't because it's his fault it happened since he didn't fire the assistant the year before. What. The. Actual. Fůck.
I realize this is fiction but I didn't think we were cool with blaming 🍇 survivors. I am sick.
H thoughts to himself:
Obviously, she was caught on the video putting something suspicious in my drink. Still… I invited the situation into my life.
Speaking with his parents:
"...you also failed to act and therefore left the door wide open for Fiona to do exactly what she did.”
Then:
“She won’t even hear me out first?” My question was only a whisper.
“Son, your wife had a front row seat to you being intimate with (being 🍇ed by*** fixed it) another woman in front of all your family, friends, and coworkers. Not only that, but then she had to hear about how you could have prevented it and apparently hid the truth that your personal assistant, the woman who probably spends more waking time with you every week than your own wife, had offered you smex before. In all honesty, it’s the latter part that made her follow through with the call to her lawyer last week.”
Read
January 3, 2026──
*Note: This book is cheating adjacent. If you do not like other woman drama or cheating books, this one will not be for you.
Trigger Warnings
This is wild, but before we get to the potential triggers, here is a warning about the trigger warning:
Triggers disclosed in this section may give spoilers for events that happen in the story. If you don’t want any part of the plot ruined, and you are not a sensitive reader, YOU SHOULD SKIP READING THE TRIGGER WARNINGS! You can skip to the prologue via the menu/table of contents.
Use of drugs & alcohol (not always consensual use)
Non consent / sexual assault (not done by main character - and mostly glossed over because I don’t believe in egregiously highlighting assaults beyond what is necessary to move the plot along)
Betrayal by a partner
Fake pregnancy (used as baby trapping ploy)
Real Hidden Pregnancy (hidden from other parent out of fear of other woman)
Other Woman Drama
Sexual situations (between consenting adults described on page)
Perceived Affair
Strong Language
Mental Health/Depression & More potential triggers not listed here.
The perceived cheating is SA as the Hero is drugged so obviously that's not cheating but the bigger issue that's raised is the married couple had an agreement that if he was propositioned by anyone they would talk about it as he's in the music industry and so hot and rich that this happens often.... I did roll my eyes at this.
The Hero neglects to tell the heroine that his recently hired assistant who up to this point had been very efficient propositions him then plays it off as a joke and the Hero accepts that and doesn't tell the heroine, his wife, which breaks their trust and the author leads the reader to believe it opens the door for the actions of the other woman at later date. But in all fairness yes he broke her trust which is a whole issue on its own but who would expect her to assault him.
I didn't really feel with all the focus on protecting the heroine that the Hero got the professional support he needed here and it could have been a way to highlight that support is needed and how it can be offered.
Tbh the whole storyline is completely OTT so it wasn't for me.
There is alot of sex between the Hero and heroine, I felt almost as this affirms their close relationship.
Also after the SA, which was unprotected sex there is nothing mentioned about testing either from the Hero or his wife after they decide to reconcile which considering the morals of drugging someone to rape them I'd have thought this was important as who knows where else she's been.
Lots of miscommunication or rather lack of communication due to interference from her mother that lead to a long separation and hiding a pregnancy.
HEA.
*Note: This book is cheating adjacent. If you do not like other woman drama or cheating books, this one will not be for you.
Trigger Warnings
This is wild, but before we get to the potential triggers, here is a warning about the trigger warning:
Triggers disclosed in this section may give spoilers for events that happen in the story. If you don’t want any part of the plot ruined, and you are not a sensitive reader, YOU SHOULD SKIP READING THE TRIGGER WARNINGS! You can skip to the prologue via the menu/table of contents.
Use of drugs & alcohol (not always consensual use)
Non consent / sexual assault (not done by main character - and mostly glossed over because I don’t believe in egregiously highlighting assaults beyond what is necessary to move the plot along)
Betrayal by a partner
Fake pregnancy (used as baby trapping ploy)
Real Hidden Pregnancy (hidden from other parent out of fear of other woman)
Other Woman Drama
Sexual situations (between consenting adults described on page)
Perceived Affair
Strong Language
Mental Health/Depression & More potential triggers not listed here.
The perceived cheating is SA as the Hero is drugged so obviously that's not cheating but the bigger issue that's raised is the married couple had an agreement that if he was propositioned by anyone they would talk about it as he's in the music industry and so hot and rich that this happens often.... I did roll my eyes at this.
The Hero neglects to tell the heroine that his recently hired assistant who up to this point had been very efficient propositions him then plays it off as a joke and the Hero accepts that and doesn't tell the heroine, his wife, which breaks their trust and the author leads the reader to believe it opens the door for the actions of the other woman at later date. But in all fairness yes he broke her trust which is a whole issue on its own but who would expect her to assault him.
I didn't really feel with all the focus on protecting the heroine that the Hero got the professional support he needed here and it could have been a way to highlight that support is needed and how it can be offered.
Tbh the whole storyline is completely OTT so it wasn't for me.
There is alot of sex between the Hero and heroine, I felt almost as this affirms their close relationship.
Also after the SA, which was unprotected sex there is nothing mentioned about testing either from the Hero or his wife after they decide to reconcile which considering the morals of drugging someone to rape them I'd have thought this was important as who knows where else she's been.
Lots of miscommunication or rather lack of communication due to interference from her mother that lead to a long separation and hiding a pregnancy.
HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2026
What did I just read? Because in what world is it okay to blame anyone for being drugged and SA'd and it videoed for the world and their brother to witness? Those that are okay with this need to give their bloody heads a wobble because the way SHE betrayed HIM is hideous. I've shelved this as betrayal and no grovel - her betrayal and her not grovelling. He was innocent.
This book left me feeling a little nauseous and a whole lot disgusted. I mean, his assistant hit on him a year ago to which he swiftly shut her down there and then, she then SA'd him a year later on his birthday and because he didn't tell the wife he was hit on the year before, she divorces him. And then..... and then..... the TSTL bint is pissed he signed the divorce papers and didn't speak to her after when she told him not to??? 🤦🏼♀️ If the roles were reversed he would've been hung, drawn and quartered. Can you say double frickin standards?
Violet has to be one of the most TSTL, selfish characters I've ever read. This conversation she's having with her friend DD pretty much sums her up - “So, you were playing some sort of game and lost?” “No. I was hurt, betrayed, and shocked into a knee-jerk reaction when I filed for the divorce. After I did it, and had time to think, I knew it wasn’t what I wanted."
Her teenage brother has more brains and gumption in his little toe than she has in her entire body - "He wasn’t interested in her as a mistress, sis. For fuck’s sake, the woman r@ped him. Imagine how hard that must have been for your husband to have to deal with her on the off chance that she was carrying his child as a result of that r@pe.” My brother’s words were like a slap to the face and one I probably needed. That was an angle I hadn’t thought of since I saw those pictures." By this point they had been divorced a👏🏻bloody👏🏻year👏🏻!! I have no words 🤦🏼♀️
And the cherry on this sh!t show sundae - “I said ‘yes’ to a date with another man because I wasn’t sure how to tell you that I wanted that man to be you.” At this point I was D.O.N.E. DNF @ 84%
This book left me feeling a little nauseous and a whole lot disgusted. I mean, his assistant hit on him a year ago to which he swiftly shut her down there and then, she then SA'd him a year later on his birthday and because he didn't tell the wife he was hit on the year before, she divorces him. And then..... and then..... the TSTL bint is pissed he signed the divorce papers and didn't speak to her after when she told him not to??? 🤦🏼♀️ If the roles were reversed he would've been hung, drawn and quartered. Can you say double frickin standards?
Violet has to be one of the most TSTL, selfish characters I've ever read. This conversation she's having with her friend DD pretty much sums her up - “So, you were playing some sort of game and lost?” “No. I was hurt, betrayed, and shocked into a knee-jerk reaction when I filed for the divorce. After I did it, and had time to think, I knew it wasn’t what I wanted."
Her teenage brother has more brains and gumption in his little toe than she has in her entire body - "He wasn’t interested in her as a mistress, sis. For fuck’s sake, the woman r@ped him. Imagine how hard that must have been for your husband to have to deal with her on the off chance that she was carrying his child as a result of that r@pe.” My brother’s words were like a slap to the face and one I probably needed. That was an angle I hadn’t thought of since I saw those pictures." By this point they had been divorced a👏🏻bloody👏🏻year👏🏻!! I have no words 🤦🏼♀️
And the cherry on this sh!t show sundae - “I said ‘yes’ to a date with another man because I wasn’t sure how to tell you that I wanted that man to be you.” At this point I was D.O.N.E. DNF @ 84%
Want to read
January 2, 2026Auth note in Amazon listing: This is a standalone, marriage in trouble novel. Check the triggers using the look inside feature!
Review of advance copy received from Author
* Betrayal & Grovel
* Marriage in Trouble
* Other Woman Drama
* Hidden Pregnancy
* Fake Pregnancy
* Angst
* Standalone
* HEA
* FMC Violet x MMC Ridge
I have been waiting for this book since I first saw its promo, honestly it did not disappoint and I could not put it down.
This book contains triggers so do check those before reading.
Michelle has done it again, she knows just where to hit and how to make it hurt. The story revolves around a married couple and the aftermath of Ridges' betrayal.
The main betrayal i see is the broken promises he made to her and the coverup that really hit me. Michelle does an amazing job in showing how broken promises can be just as damaging to a relationship as a physical betrayal. How giving power to another individual outside of your relationship can have a disastrous affect.
If you are looking for angst, betrayal, growth, comeuppance and a HEA then this is definitely a book you should read.
Favourite (but heartbreaking) quote:
"She trusted that woman, despite her own misgivings, because YOU trusted her to work for you all this time."
* Marriage in Trouble
* Other Woman Drama
* Hidden Pregnancy
* Fake Pregnancy
* Angst
* Standalone
* HEA
* FMC Violet x MMC Ridge
I have been waiting for this book since I first saw its promo, honestly it did not disappoint and I could not put it down.
This book contains triggers so do check those before reading.
Michelle has done it again, she knows just where to hit and how to make it hurt. The story revolves around a married couple and the aftermath of Ridges' betrayal.
The main betrayal i see is the broken promises he made to her and the coverup that really hit me. Michelle does an amazing job in showing how broken promises can be just as damaging to a relationship as a physical betrayal. How giving power to another individual outside of your relationship can have a disastrous affect.
If you are looking for angst, betrayal, growth, comeuppance and a HEA then this is definitely a book you should read.
Favourite (but heartbreaking) quote:
"She trusted that woman, despite her own misgivings, because YOU trusted her to work for you all this time."
January 1, 2026
What am I reading?!
The story and the main characters are utterly stupid!
I don’t understand or like the miscommunication trope!
Your husband is drugged and SA which was all caught on camera. Which the wife forgives him about but divorce him anyway because the OW hit on him a year before and he didn’t fire her! Then she is upset because he didn’t fight for them! 🤦🏼♀️
And the husband is even worst! He got manipulated like the big baby that he is! He has proof that he was SA’ed but does nothing and let his rapist come on a business trip with him as she was his former assistant!? WTF am I reading!??
The plot twist is ridiculous and the characters are childish and lacking of common sense! And the miscommunication is staggering!
Sorry but I will not waste my time reading this nonsense!
Her younger brother is more mature and smarter than his sister.
The story and the main characters are utterly stupid!
I don’t understand or like the miscommunication trope!
Your husband is drugged and SA which was all caught on camera. Which the wife forgives him about but divorce him anyway because the OW hit on him a year before and he didn’t fire her! Then she is upset because he didn’t fight for them! 🤦🏼♀️
And the husband is even worst! He got manipulated like the big baby that he is! He has proof that he was SA’ed but does nothing and let his rapist come on a business trip with him as she was his former assistant!? WTF am I reading!??
The plot twist is ridiculous and the characters are childish and lacking of common sense! And the miscommunication is staggering!
Sorry but I will not waste my time reading this nonsense!
Her younger brother is more mature and smarter than his sister.
Read
January 9, 2026DNF @ 36%
January 4, 2026
Part 1: The Betrayal
Ridge met Violet on his birthday. They married on his next birthday. So now every year they celebrate his birthday and their anniversary on the same day.
Ridge now owns a record label. Violet is an event planner. During their 8th year of marriage, they decide to start trying for a baby.
Skip forward 9 months, they aren't pregnant yet, but they aren't too worried because they had to wait for her birth control shot to wear off anyway. No big deal. Except, Violet starts being away from home more often. She says she's planning a birthday party for one of the ladies from a charity she often plans stuff for. But this goes on for months. Ridge starts to think that birthday party planning shouldn't take this much time, maybe something else is going on. He worries that maybe Violet is avoiding trying to have a baby.
Then it's his birthday again, also their 9th anniversary. He wakes up to a note from Violet saying she had to go pick up some stuff for the lady's party. No happy birthday. It says, "I'll see you when you get back from work." He doesn't normally go to work on his birthday/anniversary, but he goes to work today, since Violet won't be home today anyway.
When he gets to his office, his assistant, Fiona, is there. Which is kind of weird because it's usually a day off, since Ridge wasn't expected to be at work that day. But he doesn't think much about it. She brought him a birthday cake, a $4,000 watch, and a $250 bottle of bourbon. He's so upset that Violet and his BFF Moreland didn't call him to say happy birthday, that he doesn't think much about the cost, and just starts drinking the bourbon. When he's drunk, Fiona reluctantly shows him pictures on her phone of Violet having a romantic dinner with his BFF Moreland. By then he's really drunk, and the scene fades to black, so we don't see what happens.
The reader already knows that Violet and Moreland are planning a surprise party for Ridge, and that's what they were meeting about. She and Moreland are definitely not having an affair. Fiona knows it too, because she knows about the party.
The next scene opens with all the party guests and Violet, waiting for Ridge to arrive at the park where he and Violet met. Violet texts Fiona to bring him to the park. But Fiona was giving him his gifts instead. So obviously, they never show up at the park and Ridge ends up drunk in his office.
Fiona makes a video call to Violet of Fiona and Ridge having sex in his office. Ridge says all kinds of shit like, "I should have fucked you the first time you offered." Well, now Violet knows Fiona was after Ridge all along, and Ridge never said anything. V's parents are at the park watching this video call, and V's dad starts threatening to castrate Ridge, and that's when Ridge realizes he's being watched.
He fires Fiona. He then calls Moreland's fiancée to find out more about the pictures of Moreland and Violet together. She tells him they were planning his party together.
He gets home and he and Violet talk a little bit. She tells him she could maybe understand his suspicion of her secretiveness, and she accepts that he was very drunk during the sex act. But Ridge and Violet had an agreement that if he was ever propositioned for sex, he was supposed to tell Violet immediately. So, he broke the agreement when Fiona offered him sex last year. And he sat around drinking with this wanna-be OW, which he shouldn’t have done. Violet wants a divorce. She lets him sleep on the couch because he's been drinking, but she packs her stuff and leaves before he wakes up.
Once he wakes up, he remembers going to work the day before, and that's it. So, he was black out drunk. His father has to tell him what happened yesterday.
Ridge and Violet never talk again after the night of the party. They get divorced, which he agrees to because his parents tell him Violet needs some space.
Part 2: OTT Baby Mama Drama.
So the next time Violet hears anything about Ridge, it’s 3 days after the divorce is final and there are pics of him at the airport, flying with Fiona to Australia. She was fired, so the only reason she'd fly with him is personal reasons. Actually, Fiona told him she was pregnant. He doesn’t trust her, and he lets her hang around him in Australia while he’s on a business trip, to keep an eye on her. If it’s his baby, he can keep an eye on the baby.
But he’s not talking to Violet about any of this. The tabloids make it look like he and Fiona are in a relationship. Violet is also pregnant and decides not to tell Ridge because he’s with Fiona. Violet is scared what Fiona will do to Violet’s baby.
Fiona leaves Australia without Ridge, supposedly to go have her baby in the US. What she really does is follow Violet around and cause a car accident that gets Violet and her younger brother put in the hospital.
Ridge’s mother eventually tells him something like “Violet and the baby are ok” and he figures out Violet is pregnant or just had a baby. He leaves Australia and makes it to the hospital in time for the baby to be born (Liam).
It’s also around this time he figures out that Violet’s mother lied to him when she told him that Violet would contact him when she’s ready. Actually, Violet was hoping he would call or contest the divorce or something. But Violet’s mother didn’t want them to get back together and wanted Violet to get over Ridge.
Ridge finds Fiona hiding in a closet in his office bathroom, and calls the police to come get her. She knew about his trip to Oz, and she was able to get into the building after her security codes were supposedly canceled. How was she able to do that?
So the only thing left is the grovel, or the reconciliation I guess. He had sold their house during the divorce, so now he goes house hunting for a new family home. He goes to her apartment to take care of Liam during the day. He doesn’t tell her that he wants to reconcile though. She even goes out on a date because she just thinks Ridge only wants to coparent. But Ridge interrupts the date and tells her he wants her back.
Ridge met Violet on his birthday. They married on his next birthday. So now every year they celebrate his birthday and their anniversary on the same day.
Ridge now owns a record label. Violet is an event planner. During their 8th year of marriage, they decide to start trying for a baby.
Skip forward 9 months, they aren't pregnant yet, but they aren't too worried because they had to wait for her birth control shot to wear off anyway. No big deal. Except, Violet starts being away from home more often. She says she's planning a birthday party for one of the ladies from a charity she often plans stuff for. But this goes on for months. Ridge starts to think that birthday party planning shouldn't take this much time, maybe something else is going on. He worries that maybe Violet is avoiding trying to have a baby.
Then it's his birthday again, also their 9th anniversary. He wakes up to a note from Violet saying she had to go pick up some stuff for the lady's party. No happy birthday. It says, "I'll see you when you get back from work." He doesn't normally go to work on his birthday/anniversary, but he goes to work today, since Violet won't be home today anyway.
When he gets to his office, his assistant, Fiona, is there. Which is kind of weird because it's usually a day off, since Ridge wasn't expected to be at work that day. But he doesn't think much about it. She brought him a birthday cake, a $4,000 watch, and a $250 bottle of bourbon. He's so upset that Violet and his BFF Moreland didn't call him to say happy birthday, that he doesn't think much about the cost, and just starts drinking the bourbon. When he's drunk, Fiona reluctantly shows him pictures on her phone of Violet having a romantic dinner with his BFF Moreland. By then he's really drunk, and the scene fades to black, so we don't see what happens.
The reader already knows that Violet and Moreland are planning a surprise party for Ridge, and that's what they were meeting about. She and Moreland are definitely not having an affair. Fiona knows it too, because she knows about the party.
The next scene opens with all the party guests and Violet, waiting for Ridge to arrive at the park where he and Violet met. Violet texts Fiona to bring him to the park. But Fiona was giving him his gifts instead. So obviously, they never show up at the park and Ridge ends up drunk in his office.
Fiona makes a video call to Violet of Fiona and Ridge having sex in his office. Ridge says all kinds of shit like, "I should have fucked you the first time you offered." Well, now Violet knows Fiona was after Ridge all along, and Ridge never said anything. V's parents are at the park watching this video call, and V's dad starts threatening to castrate Ridge, and that's when Ridge realizes he's being watched.
He fires Fiona. He then calls Moreland's fiancée to find out more about the pictures of Moreland and Violet together. She tells him they were planning his party together.
He gets home and he and Violet talk a little bit. She tells him she could maybe understand his suspicion of her secretiveness, and she accepts that he was very drunk during the sex act. But Ridge and Violet had an agreement that if he was ever propositioned for sex, he was supposed to tell Violet immediately. So, he broke the agreement when Fiona offered him sex last year. And he sat around drinking with this wanna-be OW, which he shouldn’t have done. Violet wants a divorce. She lets him sleep on the couch because he's been drinking, but she packs her stuff and leaves before he wakes up.
Once he wakes up, he remembers going to work the day before, and that's it. So, he was black out drunk. His father has to tell him what happened yesterday.
Ridge and Violet never talk again after the night of the party. They get divorced, which he agrees to because his parents tell him Violet needs some space.
Part 2: OTT Baby Mama Drama.
So the next time Violet hears anything about Ridge, it’s 3 days after the divorce is final and there are pics of him at the airport, flying with Fiona to Australia. She was fired, so the only reason she'd fly with him is personal reasons. Actually, Fiona told him she was pregnant. He doesn’t trust her, and he lets her hang around him in Australia while he’s on a business trip, to keep an eye on her. If it’s his baby, he can keep an eye on the baby.
But he’s not talking to Violet about any of this. The tabloids make it look like he and Fiona are in a relationship. Violet is also pregnant and decides not to tell Ridge because he’s with Fiona. Violet is scared what Fiona will do to Violet’s baby.
Fiona leaves Australia without Ridge, supposedly to go have her baby in the US. What she really does is follow Violet around and cause a car accident that gets Violet and her younger brother put in the hospital.
Ridge’s mother eventually tells him something like “Violet and the baby are ok” and he figures out Violet is pregnant or just had a baby. He leaves Australia and makes it to the hospital in time for the baby to be born (Liam).
It’s also around this time he figures out that Violet’s mother lied to him when she told him that Violet would contact him when she’s ready. Actually, Violet was hoping he would call or contest the divorce or something. But Violet’s mother didn’t want them to get back together and wanted Violet to get over Ridge.
Ridge finds Fiona hiding in a closet in his office bathroom, and calls the police to come get her. She knew about his trip to Oz, and she was able to get into the building after her security codes were supposedly canceled. How was she able to do that?
So the only thing left is the grovel, or the reconciliation I guess. He had sold their house during the divorce, so now he goes house hunting for a new family home. He goes to her apartment to take care of Liam during the day. He doesn’t tell her that he wants to reconcile though. She even goes out on a date because she just thinks Ridge only wants to coparent. But Ridge interrupts the date and tells her he wants her back.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2026
I had to DNF this book because I simply couldn’t push through how poorly written and illogical it was. The story drags on for far too long, and when the major conflict finally happens, it’s handled in a way that makes no emotional or narrative sense.
Ridge and Violet are married and are repeatedly described as happy and in love. Ridge knows Violet. He knows his best friend, Moreland. While Violet’s behaviour becomes secretive for months, Ridge has no real reason to believe she would cheat on him — especially not with his best friend. Rather than communicating or trusting the people he claims to love, Ridge immediately jumps to suspicion.
What makes this worse is that Ridge does have a legitimate reason to be wary of someone else: his assistant, Fiona. She had hit on him previously, crossed professional boundaries, and made him uncomfortable — and Ridge ignored it. He never told Violet, never shut it down properly, and continued spending time alone with her, drinking with her, despite knowing her interest wasn’t appropriate.
On the day of his birthday (and anniversary), Ridge goes into work, where Fiona is inexplicably present. She brings him expensive gifts and alcohol, encourages him to drink heavily, and deliberately fuels his paranoia by showing him photos of Violet and Moreland together — despite knowing they are planning a surprise party. Ridge becomes blackout drunk.
What follows is the book’s most serious failure. Fiona drugs Ridge and sexually assaults him. She then FaceTimes Violet while the assault is happening, forcing Violet — and her parents — to witness it. Ridge says vile things during the call while he is intoxicated and incapacitated.
Instead of treating this as the assault it clearly is, the story brushes it aside. The focus shifts to Violet being unable to forgive Ridge not because of the assault itself, but because Fiona had hit on him a year earlier and Ridge never disclosed it — despite the fact that this omission pales in comparison to the manipulation, drugging, and assault that just occurred.
Ridge fires Fiona, briefly confronts Violet, and then everything stops. He remembers almost nothing; his father has to tell him what happened. Ridge and Violet never properly talk again. Time passes, Violet later discovers she’s pregnant, and Ridge continues to make irrational and controlling choices instead of taking accountability, seeking justice, or genuinely fighting for his marriage.
The book seems to argue that Violet could forgive the “cheating” because it was assault, but not the earlier failure to disclose Fiona’s behaviour. That logic is deeply flawed. The sexual assault is minimised, the emotional fallout is inconsistent, and the characters act in ways that exist solely to manufacture drama.
I believe Ridge and Violet end up together in the end, but by that point I was completely disengaged. This book confuses poor decision-making with depth and treats a serious subject with shocking carelessness.
I skimmed the rest and went straight to the ending. This was a hard no for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2025
Ridge and Violet are a happily married couple until Ridge makes a decision to ignore something that he should not have. That one decision will have a lasting impact on both of them and their relationship.
What you get in this novel is Betrayal & Grovel, Marriage in Trouble, Other Woman Drama, Hidden Pregnancy, Fake Pregnancy and Angst
If you love marriage in trouble and an unhinged other woman this is the book for you. Please read the trigger warning for this one before you start. You can be assured that Anne deals with any triggering subjects with the utmost sensitivity.
What you get in this novel is Betrayal & Grovel, Marriage in Trouble, Other Woman Drama, Hidden Pregnancy, Fake Pregnancy and Angst
If you love marriage in trouble and an unhinged other woman this is the book for you. Please read the trigger warning for this one before you start. You can be assured that Anne deals with any triggering subjects with the utmost sensitivity.
January 2, 2026
Ridiculous book. MMC made out to be the bad guy. No, he wasn't. FMC made out to be the good guy. No, she had no empathy for her husband and what happened to him. Divorce without even speaking a word. Gave up when the MMC goes overseas to work without even needing a visa, and OW is there. It's not worth the money or time.
January 3, 2026
Ridge & Violet
First I must say I was expecting for of a gut punch so I was disappointed. I wouldn't really call this a cheating book either as he had no control over what Fiona did to him. I didn't quite understand why Violet didn't want to speak with him. She uses the excuse he kept the first time Fiona hit on him from her. Hello! Wasn't more important that she be there for him considering he was violated?
When a women is violated there is emotions she goes through, we didn't see those emotions really from Ridge and no one really seemed to care about that fact.
First I must say I was expecting for of a gut punch so I was disappointed. I wouldn't really call this a cheating book either as he had no control over what Fiona did to him. I didn't quite understand why Violet didn't want to speak with him. She uses the excuse he kept the first time Fiona hit on him from her. Hello! Wasn't more important that she be there for him considering he was violated?
When a women is violated there is emotions she goes through, we didn't see those emotions really from Ridge and no one really seemed to care about that fact.
January 3, 2026
This isn’t a proper review. It’s just a few of my thoughts. I’m disappointed in how the SA was essentially glossed over. The double standard here is astronomical. It was talked about ALOT but not in any way that that was important. There was an air of “if you hadn’t done this, then this wouldn’t have happened.” It’s giving…her top was too tight and her skirt too short, so she deserved it. I’m grossed out by this. The lack of communication with these two was about the worst I’ve ever seen. A man who is so in love but doesn’t actually seem to be for MONTHS, doesn’t track. He doesn’t call, text, visit, ask about her, or send a carrier pigeon. Just nothing. I guess I wanted him to be a little more ALPHA. A FMC that doesn’t show much concern that her partner is SA’d is inexcusable. I am sad to say did not like either character. I was really looking forward to this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
January 17, 2026DNF (for now) @ 46%
I’m fuming and can’t keep going with this right now.
SA is SA, no matter if it happens to a man or a woman. The way the MMC is repeatedly blamed for everything that happened to him by not just the FMC but also his own parents is sickening. He literally exists in a fugue state for a solid week after he’s r*ped, and still his parents are there telling him none of this would have happened if he’d just fired OW last year. Even his wife can’t be bothered.
I get it. It’s got to be so damn traumatizing to discover your husband “cheating” on you in such a public and humiliating way, but imagine how much fucking worse it is to discover you hurt the woman you love the most so much, and it wasn’t even your actions…that someone had taken choice from you and used your body in such a grotesque way.
I’m not excusing everything he did. He’s not innocent. But I can’t keep reading knowing how little attention is given to his SA. It genuinely makes me ill.
I’m fuming and can’t keep going with this right now.
SA is SA, no matter if it happens to a man or a woman. The way the MMC is repeatedly blamed for everything that happened to him by not just the FMC but also his own parents is sickening. He literally exists in a fugue state for a solid week after he’s r*ped, and still his parents are there telling him none of this would have happened if he’d just fired OW last year. Even his wife can’t be bothered.
I get it. It’s got to be so damn traumatizing to discover your husband “cheating” on you in such a public and humiliating way, but imagine how much fucking worse it is to discover you hurt the woman you love the most so much, and it wasn’t even your actions…that someone had taken choice from you and used your body in such a grotesque way.
I’m not excusing everything he did. He’s not innocent. But I can’t keep reading knowing how little attention is given to his SA. It genuinely makes me ill.
January 1, 2026
It started off really good but it lost me at about 80%. They talk about how they’re going to talk to each other, then it’s like a month later or whatever. I don’t know. It just lost me 🤷🏻♀️
In my humble opinion, of course 💙
In my humble opinion, of course 💙
January 3, 2026
I really hated how the sexual assault was handled in this book. The OW was a rapist but get a bye until she does something to threaten the h.
The author is better than this. The book was a letdown.
The author is better than this. The book was a letdown.
February 11, 2026
Eeek! I just can’t.
This author is always ott and her books have a level of misunderstanding and drama that makes you think everyone has cognitive issues, the hard ones.
This also has abuse and some kind of cheating.
And the characters don’t act like they’re smart, they look like dumb idiots, and make you want to slap the hell out of them for their idiotic decisions.
So, hero and heroine are a very loving couple, they’re in love with each other and are trying for a child.
Hero has a pa, one of a long list, that once tried to make a pass on him, but in some kind of light and fun way, so he thought it was a joke. Truth is, he told her there was no way he could ever let her work with him if she had a crush on him, but she reassured him she was just joking. From that moment on she was always very correct, even if sometimes she showed a bit of legs. But he doesn’t care.
His wife is planning his birthday and of course it’s a surprise party so she gets in tough with his relative, among the others there is a hot guy who’s the hero’s cousin and guess what, ow sees them together and takes pictures, because you never know.
So the hero thinks she might have an affair and is afraid of her leaving him.
The day of his birthday the heroine doesn’t even tell him happy birthday, and he’s very bitter and disappointed, so when ow comes into his office with a cake and some Dutch courage, he doesn’t refuse.
And here’s where things get really creepy.
Heroine is at home with all the parents, relatives, friends and colleagues and the whole town with the major, the pastor and the fire squad waiting for him, but she gets a call from his phone, a video call, showing him going at it with his pa and telling her how much better she is than his wife.
Imagine the scene.
Balloons pops, people’s jaws drop, and the heroine screams can be heard for miles.
And when the hero comes to his senses and gets back home the heroine is furious.
The poor man is left out cold and when he wakes up he doesn’t remember anything and is still very pissed because he thinks his wife not only cheated on him but also forgot his birthday.
You get it? Not yet?
Well, let’s be clear, the man has been drugged and raped and doesn’t remember one thing.
The heroine dumps him and files for divorce, then finds out she’s pregnant.
Apparently though, the hero doesn’t even try to get her back, and she thinks he’s kind of happy that they’ve divorced.
She also sees his pictures with ow at the airport flying to Australia, while she’s home alone and pregnant.
The hero though, was deceived by his mother in law that told him that the heroine didn’t want him anymore and he would not be welcome with any excuse or explanations.
So he thought he would leave her be until she was ready to hear his piece.
Ow ambushed him and told him she was preggo with his child, and he tried to silence her and to find out if it was true, but she always refuses to have dna test.
Months later his cousin calls him back, and he finds out heroine is preggo, and that she never told her mother that she didn’t want him anymore and that he was forbidden to call her or else. They reconnect slowly, and all is well. Ow is a psycho bunny boiler. A rapist and an abuser. And in the end she has what she deserves.
The plot is craaaaazy, really.
First of all, the hero was abused, he was just having a drink in his office and a piece of cake with his pa, I don’t think he did nothing wrong, if one of my colleagues bought me a drink and a cake on my birthday I wouldn’t think they want to drug me and rape me, so imo he was maybe a bit naive but not malicious.
What he did wrong was not telling his wife about the pa trying to flirt with one year before, but the heroine took it too far and divorced him for lying to her.
I mean, the hero was drugged, raped, exposed and she didn’t even asked him if he was ok, which he was not of course.
What kind of wife is she?
And even if he was a bit naive with ow because he didn’t see any red flags, he was never interested in her and how could he think that she would drug him in his office? Where cameras were all around?
So to me the heroine was the one who was mostly guilty.
But then, after she filed for divorce, he never tried to reconnect with her and simply accepted the fact, showing very little care for his wife, and never even thinking about how he could win her back.
And this was some kind of inconsistency imo.
He could have tried to talk to her.
He could have asked his parents to talk to her, but he didn’t.
And if his cousin hadn’t asked him to get back, I don’t know how long he would have stayed away, or if he never tried to win her back, which is not believable since he was soooo much in love with her, and he was never even tempted by ow.
His behavior to ow was also very weird, he should have gone to the cops and sued her for rape, he had the evidence and he waited months before doing it.
So on the end it was all the heroine’s mother fault, and she was blamed and dissed by everyone, which imo was not fair, everyone have their part of blame here, but apparently they had to find a scapegoat.
Both are celibate, the hero wa raped by ow, poor guy, which I don’t consider as cheating because it was abuse and he was also publicly exposed, which added to his trauma.
The heroine in this book was not someone I liked, even if she was hurt, felt betrayed because he hid his pa trying to flirt with him once, she should have been by his side after what he went through.
This author is always ott and her books have a level of misunderstanding and drama that makes you think everyone has cognitive issues, the hard ones.
This also has abuse and some kind of cheating.
And the characters don’t act like they’re smart, they look like dumb idiots, and make you want to slap the hell out of them for their idiotic decisions.
So, hero and heroine are a very loving couple, they’re in love with each other and are trying for a child.
Hero has a pa, one of a long list, that once tried to make a pass on him, but in some kind of light and fun way, so he thought it was a joke. Truth is, he told her there was no way he could ever let her work with him if she had a crush on him, but she reassured him she was just joking. From that moment on she was always very correct, even if sometimes she showed a bit of legs. But he doesn’t care.
His wife is planning his birthday and of course it’s a surprise party so she gets in tough with his relative, among the others there is a hot guy who’s the hero’s cousin and guess what, ow sees them together and takes pictures, because you never know.
So the hero thinks she might have an affair and is afraid of her leaving him.
The day of his birthday the heroine doesn’t even tell him happy birthday, and he’s very bitter and disappointed, so when ow comes into his office with a cake and some Dutch courage, he doesn’t refuse.
And here’s where things get really creepy.
Heroine is at home with all the parents, relatives, friends and colleagues and the whole town with the major, the pastor and the fire squad waiting for him, but she gets a call from his phone, a video call, showing him going at it with his pa and telling her how much better she is than his wife.
Imagine the scene.
Balloons pops, people’s jaws drop, and the heroine screams can be heard for miles.
And when the hero comes to his senses and gets back home the heroine is furious.
The poor man is left out cold and when he wakes up he doesn’t remember anything and is still very pissed because he thinks his wife not only cheated on him but also forgot his birthday.
You get it? Not yet?
Well, let’s be clear, the man has been drugged and raped and doesn’t remember one thing.
The heroine dumps him and files for divorce, then finds out she’s pregnant.
Apparently though, the hero doesn’t even try to get her back, and she thinks he’s kind of happy that they’ve divorced.
She also sees his pictures with ow at the airport flying to Australia, while she’s home alone and pregnant.
The hero though, was deceived by his mother in law that told him that the heroine didn’t want him anymore and he would not be welcome with any excuse or explanations.
So he thought he would leave her be until she was ready to hear his piece.
Ow ambushed him and told him she was preggo with his child, and he tried to silence her and to find out if it was true, but she always refuses to have dna test.
Months later his cousin calls him back, and he finds out heroine is preggo, and that she never told her mother that she didn’t want him anymore and that he was forbidden to call her or else. They reconnect slowly, and all is well. Ow is a psycho bunny boiler. A rapist and an abuser. And in the end she has what she deserves.
The plot is craaaaazy, really.
First of all, the hero was abused, he was just having a drink in his office and a piece of cake with his pa, I don’t think he did nothing wrong, if one of my colleagues bought me a drink and a cake on my birthday I wouldn’t think they want to drug me and rape me, so imo he was maybe a bit naive but not malicious.
What he did wrong was not telling his wife about the pa trying to flirt with one year before, but the heroine took it too far and divorced him for lying to her.
I mean, the hero was drugged, raped, exposed and she didn’t even asked him if he was ok, which he was not of course.
What kind of wife is she?
And even if he was a bit naive with ow because he didn’t see any red flags, he was never interested in her and how could he think that she would drug him in his office? Where cameras were all around?
So to me the heroine was the one who was mostly guilty.
But then, after she filed for divorce, he never tried to reconnect with her and simply accepted the fact, showing very little care for his wife, and never even thinking about how he could win her back.
And this was some kind of inconsistency imo.
He could have tried to talk to her.
He could have asked his parents to talk to her, but he didn’t.
And if his cousin hadn’t asked him to get back, I don’t know how long he would have stayed away, or if he never tried to win her back, which is not believable since he was soooo much in love with her, and he was never even tempted by ow.
His behavior to ow was also very weird, he should have gone to the cops and sued her for rape, he had the evidence and he waited months before doing it.
So on the end it was all the heroine’s mother fault, and she was blamed and dissed by everyone, which imo was not fair, everyone have their part of blame here, but apparently they had to find a scapegoat.
Both are celibate, the hero wa raped by ow, poor guy, which I don’t consider as cheating because it was abuse and he was also publicly exposed, which added to his trauma.
The heroine in this book was not someone I liked, even if she was hurt, felt betrayed because he hid his pa trying to flirt with him once, she should have been by his side after what he went through.
January 18, 2026
So this review will be different than what I normally do. If I don’t like a book I typically just leave a star rating and move on but I can’t with this one!
I really wanted to like this, especially since I spent the money to preorder it, and I did at first. But the FMC(Violet) is an AWFUL wife. She knew her husband (Ridge) was drugged and raped and instead of checking on him, and being there for him because being raped is a huge violation, she holds a grudge because she found out his secretary hit on him (a year ago) and he didn’t tell her because he thought it was a joke. I’d beg for a divorce if I was him! #justiceforRidge
Fmc -“the rape wouldn’t have happened had he fired her” uhh it’s giving “you wouldn’t have been SAed if you weren’t wearing that skirt”
Then FMC feels hurt because the MMC did what she wanted- Signed divorce papers without fighting her about it. (Which by the way the fmc’s mother told him that’s what the fmc wanted) My god this woman is awful! So instead of talking to him and making sure he’s ok with being drugged and SA, she sends divorce papers and is now mad because he signed them. Yes you read that right. If you didn’t want him to sign them why send them!!
FMC finds out she’s pregnant but sees a picture on a news outlet with her ex and secretary (not what it appears) so she and all his friends and family don’t tell the poor guy that he’s going to be a father Because they’re concerned about him being with the secretary… imagine if his own parents and best friend just asked to find out what was going on. Holy miscommunication. Poor guy, I’d be glad to never speak to the parents, friend and fmc ever again!
Once violet has the baby, Ridge has made it back to her just in time. He wants to stay the night in the room because hello, he’s a proud new father and violet is all “No!” Basically saying it’s his fault all this happened. Then she feels really bad for not letting him stay but continues to make him leave the entire week she’s in the hospital with the baby… did I mention how much I hate the FMC?
Now months have passed, and violet misses her husband, she learns that her mom told ridge violet didn’t want him to reach out and what does violet do she decides to start dating.. I kid you not. I really wish the book would have ended with Ridge seeing violet in a date, he finally wakes up and realizes his ex wife is the biggest pos and is done with her, finds a partner who isn’t awful. Shellie actually tells him “I said yes to a date with another man because I wasn’t sure how to tell you that I wanted that man to be you” WTF!?
So all this time violet decides to get that divorce because Ridge didn’t tell her his assistant hit on him (which he thought was just a joke) but she’s perfectly fine not telling him things and acting goes on a date!!!??
All that being said. Would I ever recommend this book? If you love miscommunication, crazy stalkers, lifetime movie type books where it’s just pure chaos, nothing makes sense then yes, I would highly recommend it to you.
January 1, 2026
Cheating = H does not tell the h about the OW coming on to him, a year later, the OW drugs the H, climbs on top, goes to town and video calls the h who is waiting along with everyone she knows for the H's surprise birthday party. Everyone gets to view the H sliding his unprotected d*ck into OW,,,just eww!! (side note to author, was it mentioned and I missed it where the H gets tested after? I also do not remember reading the h having a concern either...I mean I get it was SA/R, but still needed testing, right?)
h sees H with OW = see above
SA/R = see above...it take a while but the H finally pulls his head out of his ass and files a report and works to get charges filed on OW
OW drama = besides the SA/R...OW does what she can to undermine the h to the H, OW attempted to take out the h, lied to the H about being pregnant, etc. Comeuppance? OW is imprisoned and later shanked out of this life.
Grovel = H did not need to grovel because of the SA/R, but for the lie/omission he made about not letting the h know about the first time the OW came on to him as they had an explicit agreement that any time that happened it was to be discussed between them. H completely broke h's trust and then it got compounded by outside influences who stopped him from even trying to reach out to the h after it had all happened. H eventually got metaphorically bitch slapped when h agreed to go on a date with OM (who was not important to the story). H finally got off his ass to fight hard for the h and for their relationship.
Good book and great first read for 2026.
h sees H with OW = see above
SA/R = see above...it take a while but the H finally pulls his head out of his ass and files a report and works to get charges filed on OW
OW drama = besides the SA/R...OW does what she can to undermine the h to the H, OW attempted to take out the h, lied to the H about being pregnant, etc. Comeuppance? OW is imprisoned and later shanked out of this life.
Grovel = H did not need to grovel because of the SA/R, but for the lie/omission he made about not letting the h know about the first time the OW came on to him as they had an explicit agreement that any time that happened it was to be discussed between them. H completely broke h's trust and then it got compounded by outside influences who stopped him from even trying to reach out to the h after it had all happened. H eventually got metaphorically bitch slapped when h agreed to go on a date with OM (who was not important to the story). H finally got off his ass to fight hard for the h and for their relationship.
Good book and great first read for 2026.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2026
4 1/2 Stars. OW drama 👍The H and h married on his birthday so that it is an extra special day. When the H mentions that he has never had a surprise birthday party, the h uses all of her skills as an event planner to make this year's birthday a special surprise. The H notices that the h is busier and more distracted than usual. On the day of his birthday no one reaches out to him with wishes and plans except his secretary (OW). Last year she offered herself as a present and was rejected. This year she has an expensive bottle of bourbon and coconut cake. The h has given the OW the responsibility for getting the H to the location of his surprise party. The OW has instead plotted to drug and rape the H and get him to impregnate her. She shares the seduction with the party goers with a video call. The h leaves the H. The H fires the OW and the office cameras have captured her crime. The h waits for the H to fight for her but her mother has told him to give the h space and she will contact him when she is ready. This is a lie. She proceeds with divorce despite her recently discovered pregnancy. The OW continues with lies and dangerous behaviors before the HEA.
January 20, 2026
this is a story of having faith in the wrong person. they have been married for years and although they have had to dismiss a few secretaries because they don't understand that personal boundary line things seem to be going well with the new one. When he told her that he has never had a surprise party she sets off to plan for him which is not easy. They quiet meetings and keeping things from him help feed insecurities in him which help the secretary fake some photos and then drug him calling to make sure his wife and everyone else see what they are doing. The wife leaves and takes a surprise with her not telling him while she watches him take the OW across seas. When he finally learns of the surprise he runs back but they now have to deal with the crazy OW saying she is pregnant and trying to cement her place in his life all the wrong ways. When he crashes a date everyone tells her that it's ok to try and give him another chance.
January 3, 2026
Anne/Christine never fails to write a compelling and captivating story. In Nothing Special, we follow married couple Ridge and Violet. Their relationship appears unbreakable, but small fissures begin to compromise their formidable foundation. Small, but harmful, choices spiderweb into irrevocable betrayal.
I appreciated Ridge’s heartfelt ownership of his culpability. It was realistic and relatable watching them navigate a rebuilding trust and a stronger future with the help of therapy. I do feel that the brevity of this novel inhibited the scope of emotional impact I was hoping for. I wish we had more time of them working through their new beginning, as well as more time with the fallout of their families.
Overall it was an enjoyable read; but, please, as always, check content warnings.
I appreciated Ridge’s heartfelt ownership of his culpability. It was realistic and relatable watching them navigate a rebuilding trust and a stronger future with the help of therapy. I do feel that the brevity of this novel inhibited the scope of emotional impact I was hoping for. I wish we had more time of them working through their new beginning, as well as more time with the fallout of their families.
Overall it was an enjoyable read; but, please, as always, check content warnings.
did-not-finish
January 5, 2026I got to 42% and just didn’t want to go any further. I have a huge problem with the whole set-up. He’s r@ped and made the bad guy?? The r@pist made one suggestive move on him a year ago, with no inappropriate behavior again until that day, and because he didn’t take action in the beginning he’s responsible?
I get that FMC would be angry at first. But his dad WATCHED THE TAPE and didn’t back him up. Of course MMC is going to feel guilty about what happened, that’s a totally normal response to any type of SA. But why isn’t FMC there with him now, holding him and telling him it’s not his fault? If the situation was reversed we would all be furious with MMC for not being there supporting her.
I love Anne Storm, and because of that I bought this book without checking the reviews. I’m really mad at myself for accidentally supporting her with this one.
I get that FMC would be angry at first. But his dad WATCHED THE TAPE and didn’t back him up. Of course MMC is going to feel guilty about what happened, that’s a totally normal response to any type of SA. But why isn’t FMC there with him now, holding him and telling him it’s not his fault? If the situation was reversed we would all be furious with MMC for not being there supporting her.
I love Anne Storm, and because of that I bought this book without checking the reviews. I’m really mad at myself for accidentally supporting her with this one.
January 23, 2026
The title is not about their relationship…
FMC — Violet
MMC — Ridge
Wannabe OW — Fiona
SPOILERS
***********
Fiona is Ridge’s assistant at work, and she’s been really flirty. Ridge loves his wife, Violet, and is not interested at all. But on his 35th birthday, Fiona manages to drug him and then rape him. And then she fakes pregnancy. Violet divorces him.
I have to say that angers me. Instead of standing by him, she runs out on him. He was drugged and assaulted. Oh, and attempted murder of Violet and her brother.
Turns out Fiona’s father was a small time producer and wanted a piece of Ridge’s pie. When he couldn’t be seduced, they changed their plan. Disgusting. 🤮 And fortunately she got a 20+ year sentence.
I like this author a lot. And this book was better than average! A solid 4 ⭐️ read.
FMC — Violet
MMC — Ridge
Wannabe OW — Fiona
SPOILERS
***********
Fiona is Ridge’s assistant at work, and she’s been really flirty. Ridge loves his wife, Violet, and is not interested at all. But on his 35th birthday, Fiona manages to drug him and then rape him. And then she fakes pregnancy. Violet divorces him.
I have to say that angers me. Instead of standing by him, she runs out on him. He was drugged and assaulted. Oh, and attempted murder of Violet and her brother.
Turns out Fiona’s father was a small time producer and wanted a piece of Ridge’s pie. When he couldn’t be seduced, they changed their plan. Disgusting. 🤮 And fortunately she got a 20+ year sentence.
I like this author a lot. And this book was better than average! A solid 4 ⭐️ read.
January 2, 2026
Marriage in ruins romance
Ridge and Violet seemed to have a perfect marriage until his evil assistant decided she wanted Ridge. Through a series of lies, deception, alcohol, drugs, and male rape, their marriage is destroyed. Throw into the mix Violet’s horrible, manipulative mother and there seems little hope the two can rekindle their marriage. But a pregnancy changes everything.
The story started strong but really drug in the middle. The sample complaints and misunderstandings kept appearing again and again, more a fecious circle or no communicating and whining. But the latter part of the book was better.
Ridge and Violet seemed to have a perfect marriage until his evil assistant decided she wanted Ridge. Through a series of lies, deception, alcohol, drugs, and male rape, their marriage is destroyed. Throw into the mix Violet’s horrible, manipulative mother and there seems little hope the two can rekindle their marriage. But a pregnancy changes everything.
The story started strong but really drug in the middle. The sample complaints and misunderstandings kept appearing again and again, more a fecious circle or no communicating and whining. But the latter part of the book was better.
January 2, 2026
The author has given us an over the top OW who does so much d.a.m.a.g.e to Violet and Ridge’s relationship and persons that we readers love to h.a.t.e. Even Violet’s mother ends up being an obstacle to these two’s HEA and ends up on my h.i.t list. It is a bumpy and curvy road these two have to travel between plans going wrong, a conniving and plotting OW who is c.r.a.z.y and b.a.d advice and actually l.y.i.n.g by the MIL. These two just can’t catch a break but do end up happy again. I'm also happy to say the OW does get her comeuppance this time.
Check out the trigger warnings because there is one act that might be hard for some to read about.
Check out the trigger warnings because there is one act that might be hard for some to read about.
January 5, 2026
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Couple: Ridge & Violet
❋❋❋❋❋❋
Whew... this one had a lot going on, some good and some bad. I didn't care for the way either of them handled what happened with Ridge. Did I understand both sides yes, but none of it sat well with me. The families of both of them were big parts of the story so with that brought a whole lot of drama. My attention was held the whole way through and in the end I could get behind their happy ending. Lets just hope they remember what communication is.
Couple: Ridge & Violet
❋❋❋❋❋❋
Whew... this one had a lot going on, some good and some bad. I didn't care for the way either of them handled what happened with Ridge. Did I understand both sides yes, but none of it sat well with me. The families of both of them were big parts of the story so with that brought a whole lot of drama. My attention was held the whole way through and in the end I could get behind their happy ending. Lets just hope they remember what communication is.
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