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Only for the Year: A Billionaire Marriage of Convenience
One year of marriage for one million dollars…
What could go wrong?
Grace Morgan is a broke post-grad drowning in student loans, rejection letters, and the quiet terror of having to crawl back to her small town a failure. Waitressing at an elite kink club isn’t her dream job, but it pays the bills. Until one clumsy mistake has her spilling a drink on the wrong billionaire and getting fired on the spot.
Enter the man she just soaked in whiskey.
Asher Caine doesn’t date. He keeps everything controlled and impersonal. Each relationship comes with a contract and terms. No attachments. No feelings. It’s a system that’s always worked, until a new inheritance requirement threatens the controlled life he’s built.
If Asher wants the family empire, he needs to get married.
Grace needs money. Asher needs a wife.
So he offers her a one year of marriage in exchange for one million dollars.
The arrangement is simple.
Temporary.
Fake.
Until Grace gets a taste of Asher’s dominant side and pretending starts to feel dangerously real. One time turns into another. Boundaries blur. And as the end of the contract approaches, Grace is forced to decide what she’s willing to risk for the storybook romance she never meant to fall into.
What could go wrong?
Grace Morgan is a broke post-grad drowning in student loans, rejection letters, and the quiet terror of having to crawl back to her small town a failure. Waitressing at an elite kink club isn’t her dream job, but it pays the bills. Until one clumsy mistake has her spilling a drink on the wrong billionaire and getting fired on the spot.
Enter the man she just soaked in whiskey.
Asher Caine doesn’t date. He keeps everything controlled and impersonal. Each relationship comes with a contract and terms. No attachments. No feelings. It’s a system that’s always worked, until a new inheritance requirement threatens the controlled life he’s built.
If Asher wants the family empire, he needs to get married.
Grace needs money. Asher needs a wife.
So he offers her a one year of marriage in exchange for one million dollars.
The arrangement is simple.
Temporary.
Fake.
Until Grace gets a taste of Asher’s dominant side and pretending starts to feel dangerously real. One time turns into another. Boundaries blur. And as the end of the contract approaches, Grace is forced to decide what she’s willing to risk for the storybook romance she never meant to fall into.
414 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 18, 2026
24 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Natalia Lourose
20 books564 followersNatalia Lourose writes angsty romance about broken people figuring out life and finding love along the way. Television and far too much smut as a teenager left her obsessed with dark-haired bad boys who are moody and wear leather jackets. Tucked away in her writing nook with a dog at her feet, two cats on her keyboard, and husband yelling at the computer – she is always writing something, or trying to.
She loves interacting with fans and fellow book lovers on social media!
She loves interacting with fans and fellow book lovers on social media!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
March 19, 2026
When Grace Morgan spills a glass of Macallan all over Asher Caine, it’s her last blunder at Haven. In the mere moments it takes for Grace to be fired, the next CEO of Sanctum International has hatched a plan that will be mutually beneficial.
Let’s be honest, this is not a new storyline. So what do we, as readers, look for when we read a common trope? Relatable and entertaining characters, and unique plot elements. In my opinion, Natalia Lourose delivered. And then some. We experience Asher’s growth from sweet but standoffish to swoony, and Grace’s evolution from sweetly submissive to a sassy success who knows her worth.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: 📱
🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): New Adult
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}
Emotions: 😩🥵😭🫠😍
Darkness: 🩶
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨ Tropes: Billionaire, Fake Relationship, Forced Proximity, Heroine in Danger, Marriage of Convenience, Meet Cute, One Bed, Opposites Attract, Rich Boy x Poor Girl
💫 Microtropes: Forehead Kisses, “Good Girl”, Pet Name (Sugar), “Yes, Sir”
🔆 Character: White Collar, Writer
💋 Kinks: 🍑 Play, Blindfold, Bondage/Restraints, Collared, Degradation (Mild), Dirty Talk, Discipline/Punishment, D/s, Domination, Pearl Necklace/Spunk Art, Power Exchange, Praise, Spanking, Toys as Teammates
🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a
🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, Dominant MMC, “My Wife”
⛔️ Safety Squad: Fatal Car Accident (Side Character) and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page and in the past and/or present. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📍 Setting: Sex Club + New York City, New York 🇺🇸
📣 Type: Only for the Year is a standalone.
⚠️ Warning: This steamy read will leave your panties damp and your cheeks flushed.
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
Let’s be honest, this is not a new storyline. So what do we, as readers, look for when we read a common trope? Relatable and entertaining characters, and unique plot elements. In my opinion, Natalia Lourose delivered. And then some. We experience Asher’s growth from sweet but standoffish to swoony, and Grace’s evolution from sweetly submissive to a sassy success who knows her worth.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: 📱
🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): New Adult
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}
Emotions: 😩🥵😭🫠😍
Darkness: 🩶
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨ Tropes: Billionaire, Fake Relationship, Forced Proximity, Heroine in Danger, Marriage of Convenience, Meet Cute, One Bed, Opposites Attract, Rich Boy x Poor Girl
💫 Microtropes: Forehead Kisses, “Good Girl”, Pet Name (Sugar), “Yes, Sir”
🔆 Character: White Collar, Writer
💋 Kinks: 🍑 Play, Blindfold, Bondage/Restraints, Collared, Degradation (Mild), Dirty Talk, Discipline/Punishment, D/s, Domination, Pearl Necklace/Spunk Art, Power Exchange, Praise, Spanking, Toys as Teammates
🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a
🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, Dominant MMC, “My Wife”
⛔️ Safety Squad: Fatal Car Accident (Side Character) and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page and in the past and/or present. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📍 Setting: Sex Club + New York City, New York 🇺🇸
📣 Type: Only for the Year is a standalone.
⚠️ Warning: This steamy read will leave your panties damp and your cheeks flushed.
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
April 1, 2026
4.5🌟, 3🌶️
I picked this up on a whim and ended up loving it more than I thought.
The contract marriage between Grace and Asher starts off simple, but it quickly turns into something much deeper. Asher has that controlled, emotionally guarded energy, but every crack in that armor feels earned. Grace brings this quiet strength that steadily grows, and I loved watching her come into her own.
Their relationship is where this really shines. The tension is always there, and the forced proximity just heightens everything in the best way. The shift from arrangement to something real feels natural and well built. The trust and vulnerability between them adds so much depth, and while the chemistry is strong, it’s the emotional connection that really makes it land.
What stood out most was the focus on growth. The story takes its time, letting the quieter moments breathe so everything feels more intentional. There’s enough drama to keep things interesting, even if a couple of threads feel slightly open-ended. Still, it was such an addictive, easy read that left me fully invested and a little in my feelings.
Safe to say I’m hooked on this author now.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Natalia Lourose & House of Hearts Lit. for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
I picked this up on a whim and ended up loving it more than I thought.
The contract marriage between Grace and Asher starts off simple, but it quickly turns into something much deeper. Asher has that controlled, emotionally guarded energy, but every crack in that armor feels earned. Grace brings this quiet strength that steadily grows, and I loved watching her come into her own.
Their relationship is where this really shines. The tension is always there, and the forced proximity just heightens everything in the best way. The shift from arrangement to something real feels natural and well built. The trust and vulnerability between them adds so much depth, and while the chemistry is strong, it’s the emotional connection that really makes it land.
What stood out most was the focus on growth. The story takes its time, letting the quieter moments breathe so everything feels more intentional. There’s enough drama to keep things interesting, even if a couple of threads feel slightly open-ended. Still, it was such an addictive, easy read that left me fully invested and a little in my feelings.
Safe to say I’m hooked on this author now.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Natalia Lourose & House of Hearts Lit. for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
March 20, 2026
Thank you to House of Arc Literary for the ARC. This is my honest, voluntary review.
A Year That Changes Everything
This one doesn’t demand attention… it earns it, slowly.
‘Only for a Year’ by Natalia Lourose unfolds with a deceptively simple premise, yet beneath the surface lies a story layered with emotion, vulnerability, and the fragile beauty of temporary connections. From the very first chapters, there is a quiet tension that lingers, shaped by the awareness that time is never truly on their side.
The pacing feels deliberate and almost reflective, allowing each moment to fully settle before moving on. Instead of rushing toward big, dramatic twists, the story chooses to linger in the in-between spaces. In the glances, the silences, and the things left unsaid. This creates a connection between the characters that feels raw, intimate, and at times almost painfully real.
What makes this story stand out is its emotional depth. The characters feel human in every sense of the word. They are flawed, searching, and shaped by their own fears and unspoken desires. Their relationship evolves naturally, but always under the quiet weight of knowing it is temporary, which adds a subtle ache to even the softest moments.
The structure of the book strengthens this feeling. There is an almost invisible countdown woven into the narrative, making each chapter feel meaningful, as if every moment is slipping through their fingers just a little too quickly.
This story does not rely on high drama or shocking twists. Its power lies in what it makes you feel. In the quiet moments, in the emotional undercurrents, and in the way it stays with you long after the final page.
Some books end… this one lingers.
Anxiety Rep | Fake Dating | Forced Proximity | One Bed | Fake Wedding | Marriage of Convenience | Family Secrets | Dual POV
A Year That Changes Everything
This one doesn’t demand attention… it earns it, slowly.
‘Only for a Year’ by Natalia Lourose unfolds with a deceptively simple premise, yet beneath the surface lies a story layered with emotion, vulnerability, and the fragile beauty of temporary connections. From the very first chapters, there is a quiet tension that lingers, shaped by the awareness that time is never truly on their side.
The pacing feels deliberate and almost reflective, allowing each moment to fully settle before moving on. Instead of rushing toward big, dramatic twists, the story chooses to linger in the in-between spaces. In the glances, the silences, and the things left unsaid. This creates a connection between the characters that feels raw, intimate, and at times almost painfully real.
What makes this story stand out is its emotional depth. The characters feel human in every sense of the word. They are flawed, searching, and shaped by their own fears and unspoken desires. Their relationship evolves naturally, but always under the quiet weight of knowing it is temporary, which adds a subtle ache to even the softest moments.
The structure of the book strengthens this feeling. There is an almost invisible countdown woven into the narrative, making each chapter feel meaningful, as if every moment is slipping through their fingers just a little too quickly.
This story does not rely on high drama or shocking twists. Its power lies in what it makes you feel. In the quiet moments, in the emotional undercurrents, and in the way it stays with you long after the final page.
Some books end… this one lingers.
Anxiety Rep | Fake Dating | Forced Proximity | One Bed | Fake Wedding | Marriage of Convenience | Family Secrets | Dual POV
April 2, 2026
The tropes drew me in and I was not disappointed! A deceptively simple premise that turned into a layered story with growth, drama, & vulnerability. The way the story developed truly shocked me!
Both of the MCs felt real! Flawed but examining all the deeper feelings that one does in early adulthood.
The spice was also truly enjoyable! After reading another highly recommended BDSM book and being disappointed by it this one shined!
Huge thank you to Natalie Lourose & House of Hearts lit for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Both of the MCs felt real! Flawed but examining all the deeper feelings that one does in early adulthood.
The spice was also truly enjoyable! After reading another highly recommended BDSM book and being disappointed by it this one shined!
Huge thank you to Natalie Lourose & House of Hearts lit for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2026
ARC REVIEW:
Thank you House of Hearts and Natalia Lourose for the opportunity to ARC read Only for the Year. I love billionaire romances, especially when paired with a marriage of convenience trope so of course I had to sign up for this ARC. Only for the Year gave me Fifty Shades of Grey meets Succession vibes and when Natalie Lourose said that there was lots of drama, she wasn't kidding. I was LOCKED IN. I really enjoyed Natalia's writing because it was concise and quick to the point. Her dialogue between characters was enjoyable as well.
Asher Caine has one goal in mind, to become CEO of Sanctum International, and he is going to do anything to achieve that goal, even if it means stepping on his sibling toes to get there. Grace Morgan is a struggling post-graduate writer who is barely making enough money to make ends meet. Grace meets Asher at Haven, a club that she works at and accidentally spills whiskey on him. Grace is fired for her mistake, but Asher takes advantage of her firing and offers her a deal she can't refuse: Marry him for a year and she gets 1 million dollars. Uhm, where can I sign up for that?
“Maybe this is a bad idea. But it’s already in motion, and once I decide I want something, I don’t stop until I have it. And I’ve decided I want Grace Morgan.”
There's something about Grace that piques Asher's interest in her. As a Dom, Asher sees the Submissive side of her and wants to bring that out of her. Grace, whose knowledge of kinks is very low, is hesitant about doing anything with Asher at first, but then learns that she enjoys following his commands. Grace also gains newfound writing inspiration as she pretends to be Asher's wife in the meantime.
“She’s a genuine, kind person, and she makes me want to be one too. I find myself wanting to come home and share my day with her, wanting to take care of her and hear about hers. Wanting to fall asleep with her in my arms, hear her laugh, see her smile every day. Grace makes me want things I’ve spent my entire life refusing to want.”
Grace meeting Asher's parents was probably the worst thing to happen to her, and you'll see why when you get there. Asher's parents, Celeste and Leonard are horrible parents that pit their children against each other when they were younger, they grew up competing for their love and approval. Even though Asher never grew up with love and support from his parents, he always showed that to Grace. He honestly wasn't the typical billionaire that's usually a little aloof and distant with the FMC, he was very communicative and sweet with Grace which I loved reading about. He truly spoiled her.
“They’re jealous, bitter people who have nothing better to do than tear others down. You know what I see when I look at you? Strength. Someone who moved to this city with a dream and refused to give up, even when some piece of shit tried to destroy it. Someone who was willing to marry me rather than give up on her dream. Someone who trusted me enough to submit, to let me see parts of herself she keeps hidden from everyone else.”
Of course, when there is a marriage of convenience and a timeframe contract on how long their marriage is going to last for, there's always the part of the book where we're anticipating how things are going to end for the MCs. Asher is the one who ends things with Grace in order to protect her, and it was actually breaking my heart. He GROVELED and showed his love for Grace when he decided to get her back and I was rooting for him. Everything he did for her back in her hometown was so sweet.
“You can’t just upend your entire life…”
“My life was already upended the night you spilled whiskey on me. Everything since then has just been me trying to catch up with that reality.”
The only thing keeping this from 5 stars was that it felt a little incomplete with the way Asher stuck it to Leonard and that Leonard pretty much got away with what he did to Grace. However, I do know that there should be more books for the Caine Dynasty so I'm hoping that revenge shall be taken in the later books. It was a fun read and it's been a really long time since I've binge read a book so fast, especially an ARC that I can't immersive read with.
Thank you House of Hearts and Natalia Lourose for the opportunity to ARC read Only for the Year. I love billionaire romances, especially when paired with a marriage of convenience trope so of course I had to sign up for this ARC. Only for the Year gave me Fifty Shades of Grey meets Succession vibes and when Natalie Lourose said that there was lots of drama, she wasn't kidding. I was LOCKED IN. I really enjoyed Natalia's writing because it was concise and quick to the point. Her dialogue between characters was enjoyable as well.
Asher Caine has one goal in mind, to become CEO of Sanctum International, and he is going to do anything to achieve that goal, even if it means stepping on his sibling toes to get there. Grace Morgan is a struggling post-graduate writer who is barely making enough money to make ends meet. Grace meets Asher at Haven, a club that she works at and accidentally spills whiskey on him. Grace is fired for her mistake, but Asher takes advantage of her firing and offers her a deal she can't refuse: Marry him for a year and she gets 1 million dollars. Uhm, where can I sign up for that?
“Maybe this is a bad idea. But it’s already in motion, and once I decide I want something, I don’t stop until I have it. And I’ve decided I want Grace Morgan.”
There's something about Grace that piques Asher's interest in her. As a Dom, Asher sees the Submissive side of her and wants to bring that out of her. Grace, whose knowledge of kinks is very low, is hesitant about doing anything with Asher at first, but then learns that she enjoys following his commands. Grace also gains newfound writing inspiration as she pretends to be Asher's wife in the meantime.
“She’s a genuine, kind person, and she makes me want to be one too. I find myself wanting to come home and share my day with her, wanting to take care of her and hear about hers. Wanting to fall asleep with her in my arms, hear her laugh, see her smile every day. Grace makes me want things I’ve spent my entire life refusing to want.”
Grace meeting Asher's parents was probably the worst thing to happen to her, and you'll see why when you get there. Asher's parents, Celeste and Leonard are horrible parents that pit their children against each other when they were younger, they grew up competing for their love and approval. Even though Asher never grew up with love and support from his parents, he always showed that to Grace. He honestly wasn't the typical billionaire that's usually a little aloof and distant with the FMC, he was very communicative and sweet with Grace which I loved reading about. He truly spoiled her.
“They’re jealous, bitter people who have nothing better to do than tear others down. You know what I see when I look at you? Strength. Someone who moved to this city with a dream and refused to give up, even when some piece of shit tried to destroy it. Someone who was willing to marry me rather than give up on her dream. Someone who trusted me enough to submit, to let me see parts of herself she keeps hidden from everyone else.”
Of course, when there is a marriage of convenience and a timeframe contract on how long their marriage is going to last for, there's always the part of the book where we're anticipating how things are going to end for the MCs. Asher is the one who ends things with Grace in order to protect her, and it was actually breaking my heart. He GROVELED and showed his love for Grace when he decided to get her back and I was rooting for him. Everything he did for her back in her hometown was so sweet.
“You can’t just upend your entire life…”
“My life was already upended the night you spilled whiskey on me. Everything since then has just been me trying to catch up with that reality.”
The only thing keeping this from 5 stars was that it felt a little incomplete with the way Asher stuck it to Leonard and that Leonard pretty much got away with what he did to Grace. However, I do know that there should be more books for the Caine Dynasty so I'm hoping that revenge shall be taken in the later books. It was a fun read and it's been a really long time since I've binge read a book so fast, especially an ARC that I can't immersive read with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
5 ⭐️♾️
10 fuckingggg staaars omgg are you kidding me?!! This exceeded my expectations and I’m literally in awe because I WAS GRIPPED.
Pls I need a book on each Caine sibling, I really do!!
THIS WAS SO GOOD!!!
I love a good marriage of convenience, I really do, and asides from knowing that this had themes of BDSM, dom/sub dynamic, and kink exploration, and that Grace was a broke grad student, I didn’t really go into this knowing and expecting much.
And I’m so glad I didn’t because this just took me by surprise in the best way; Asher completely surprised me, I was expecting for him to be this cold and callous robot towards Grace, and he was controlling, and struggled to show emotion, but he really wasn’t, there was just something about him that you could tell underneath, he wasn’t quite what his father made him out to be; he was always thoughtful and soft towards Grace, and because of that he was such a great Dom.
I really loved Asher and Grace’s relationship; there was a mutual understanding and respect between them, and especially when getting to know how awful Asher’s parents are, my goddd, I’ll come onto that shortly, they really had a great chemistry and dependency, seeing Asher lean into Grace and in return, Asher introduced Grace to exploring the world of BDSM and kink, while she fell back in love with writing again. I really had a blast!!
The spice was SPECTACULAR, I shouldn’t have been reading this in public lmaoo, but alas, it had me sweating and it’s not even summer yet, and for that 10/10!!
Onto the Caine’s siblings parents— awful, they really were awful parents to their children. I’m hoping that this is going to be a series of the Caine siblings because I’m SAT, no literally I need a book on each sibling because I’m so intrigued by them individually. Listen, the plot in this was twisting, and honestly my jaw was on the fucking FLOOR because of it, it was just sooo good. And mind you, this is my first read by Natalia Lourose, and it is not going to be my last!!
Why do I feel like this is going to put me in a reading slump?
tropes
💙 marriage of convenience
💙 billionaire romance
💙 bdsm
💙 dom/sub dynamic
💙 praise and degradation kink
I cannot thank Natalia Lourose and House of Hearts for the gifted e-arc, all opinions are entirely my own.
10 fuckingggg staaars omgg are you kidding me?!! This exceeded my expectations and I’m literally in awe because I WAS GRIPPED.
Pls I need a book on each Caine sibling, I really do!!
THIS WAS SO GOOD!!!
I love a good marriage of convenience, I really do, and asides from knowing that this had themes of BDSM, dom/sub dynamic, and kink exploration, and that Grace was a broke grad student, I didn’t really go into this knowing and expecting much.
And I’m so glad I didn’t because this just took me by surprise in the best way; Asher completely surprised me, I was expecting for him to be this cold and callous robot towards Grace, and he was controlling, and struggled to show emotion, but he really wasn’t, there was just something about him that you could tell underneath, he wasn’t quite what his father made him out to be; he was always thoughtful and soft towards Grace, and because of that he was such a great Dom.
I really loved Asher and Grace’s relationship; there was a mutual understanding and respect between them, and especially when getting to know how awful Asher’s parents are, my goddd, I’ll come onto that shortly, they really had a great chemistry and dependency, seeing Asher lean into Grace and in return, Asher introduced Grace to exploring the world of BDSM and kink, while she fell back in love with writing again. I really had a blast!!
The spice was SPECTACULAR, I shouldn’t have been reading this in public lmaoo, but alas, it had me sweating and it’s not even summer yet, and for that 10/10!!
Onto the Caine’s siblings parents— awful, they really were awful parents to their children. I’m hoping that this is going to be a series of the Caine siblings because I’m SAT, no literally I need a book on each sibling because I’m so intrigued by them individually. Listen, the plot in this was twisting, and honestly my jaw was on the fucking FLOOR because of it, it was just sooo good. And mind you, this is my first read by Natalia Lourose, and it is not going to be my last!!
Why do I feel like this is going to put me in a reading slump?
tropes
💙 marriage of convenience
💙 billionaire romance
💙 bdsm
💙 dom/sub dynamic
💙 praise and degradation kink
I cannot thank Natalia Lourose and House of Hearts for the gifted e-arc, all opinions are entirely my own.
March 18, 2026
💙Grace & Asher🩵
𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒖𝒑. 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏����𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 💦 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄😻𝒏𝒕 𝒔𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐.
I’d kneel, bend over, and do pretty much anything Asher asked me to do 😈when he calls her good girl 🫠
Natalia writes such relatable, lovable characters, especially her FMCs.
𝑳𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑾𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑴𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒓. 𝑺𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒅𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒔𝒍😈𝒕.
Asher wants his father's empire, but to claim it, he needs to get married, and he already knows the perfect girl for the job: the waitress who just spilled his drink on him.
Grace is struggling to make ends meet and drowning in student loan debt, so when she hears Asher’s proposal, she knows she has to say yes.
𝑭--𝒌 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆. 𝑺𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆. 𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒄🍆𝒄𝒌 𝒔𝒐 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍.
One year. A temporary fake arrangement sounds easy, right?
Until these two start spending time together and realize they are starting to fall for one another.
💍Good girl
💍My wife
💍Possessive and protective
💍He loves it when she begs
💍Dom/sub
💍He calls her Sugar
💍She stands up for him
💍It’ll fit, Sugar 🥵
💍The notes he writes her 🥹
The mouths on Natalia’s MMC’s, hot damn! Asher loves and thrives off control, and when Grace realizes she likes that side of him, things start to change in their relationship, and it gets spicy 🥵
𝑳𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔, 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖? 𝑩𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆? 𝑳𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒇--𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒕.
I loved how, despite not knowing anything about Asher's family or parents the first time she meets them, she defends and stands up for Asher; something no one has done for him in a very long time.
I loved how he inspires her to start writing again by giving her an incentive: she has to meet a daily writing goal. If she succeeds, she’s rewarded; if not, she’s punished. 😈🫠
𝑯𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏.
Grace has so much growth throughout this story. I loved how she blossomed, and Asher had a hand in that.
Although I saw that third act breakup coming, he definitely redeems himself. He realizes he doesn’t need an empire to feel whole; all he needs is Grace. These two have come a long way from the beginning, and now that they have their HEA, I love how he wants to be her support system through her new journey. 🩷
Only for the Year was such a fun HOT read, and I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒖𝒑. 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏����𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 💦 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄😻𝒏𝒕 𝒔𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐.
I’d kneel, bend over, and do pretty much anything Asher asked me to do 😈when he calls her good girl 🫠
Natalia writes such relatable, lovable characters, especially her FMCs.
𝑳𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑾𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑴𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒓. 𝑺𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒅𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒔𝒍😈𝒕.
Asher wants his father's empire, but to claim it, he needs to get married, and he already knows the perfect girl for the job: the waitress who just spilled his drink on him.
Grace is struggling to make ends meet and drowning in student loan debt, so when she hears Asher’s proposal, she knows she has to say yes.
𝑭--𝒌 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆. 𝑺𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆. 𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒄🍆𝒄𝒌 𝒔𝒐 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍.
One year. A temporary fake arrangement sounds easy, right?
Until these two start spending time together and realize they are starting to fall for one another.
💍Good girl
💍My wife
💍Possessive and protective
💍He loves it when she begs
💍Dom/sub
💍He calls her Sugar
💍She stands up for him
💍It’ll fit, Sugar 🥵
💍The notes he writes her 🥹
The mouths on Natalia’s MMC’s, hot damn! Asher loves and thrives off control, and when Grace realizes she likes that side of him, things start to change in their relationship, and it gets spicy 🥵
𝑳𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔, 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖? 𝑩𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆? 𝑳𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒇--𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒕.
I loved how, despite not knowing anything about Asher's family or parents the first time she meets them, she defends and stands up for Asher; something no one has done for him in a very long time.
I loved how he inspires her to start writing again by giving her an incentive: she has to meet a daily writing goal. If she succeeds, she’s rewarded; if not, she’s punished. 😈🫠
𝑯𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏.
Grace has so much growth throughout this story. I loved how she blossomed, and Asher had a hand in that.
Although I saw that third act breakup coming, he definitely redeems himself. He realizes he doesn’t need an empire to feel whole; all he needs is Grace. These two have come a long way from the beginning, and now that they have their HEA, I love how he wants to be her support system through her new journey. 🩷
Only for the Year was such a fun HOT read, and I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
March 19, 2026
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Stand-alone: Yes***
Author: Natalia Lourose
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Spiciness Rating: 3.5/5 🌶
POV: First Person Dual Perspective
Main Couple: Asher and Grace
Trope(s): Marriage of Convenience, Forced Proximity, Dom/Sub
This is my first read by Natalia Lourose. The blurb caught my attention and finding new authors is a goal of 2026. Although there is some angst, it is not overwhelming, it is just enough to hold you captive. The book flows well, the author uses an interesting creative tool, as Grace is a writer, working her book thoughts into her chapters as she immerses herself in Asher’s world. Asher’s very controlled, manipulated, strategic and hollow world. That is until Grace spills his Macallan 25 all over him. Just by being who she is, Grace begins to unravel the carefully crafted life Asher has built- the one looking for approval from his father. Until a choice needs to be made. This book has heat that spices up the pages. Well thought out showing the progression of their relationship. Asher and Grace spiced up a couple of my nights. Natalia also gives us a peek into the next Caine to take the fall.
Grace Morgan has graduated from NYU with a degree in creative writing and a dream to become a published author. Only things are not going according to plan. Needing a way to pay the rent, her bestie and roommate Kacey helped her get a job at Haven, the elite sex club, where she is an educator.
All is going okish until she spills a drink on an uber VIP, Asher Caine. And, gets fired.
So, Asher has a proposal. He needs a wife, Grace needs cash, a marriage of convenience is a win-win for both of them.
Only Asher grew up in privilege and Grace is from a small town in Michigan.
Asher has her set up with the best stylists and wedding planner around. On the outside she appears to be his equal, but she is at heart a country mouse. And, his family is ready to pounce.
Her days become filled with writing insp all thanks to Asher and his bossy ways. Soon any line they had drawn is blurred and the marriage contract is not the only one she is signing.
Being his “good girl” becomes their routine.
But, as Asher’s goal to become CEO draws closer, his family drama creates complete havoc.
Havoc that has Grace caught in the cross hairs.
Stand-alone: Yes***
Author: Natalia Lourose
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Spiciness Rating: 3.5/5 🌶
POV: First Person Dual Perspective
Main Couple: Asher and Grace
Trope(s): Marriage of Convenience, Forced Proximity, Dom/Sub
This is my first read by Natalia Lourose. The blurb caught my attention and finding new authors is a goal of 2026. Although there is some angst, it is not overwhelming, it is just enough to hold you captive. The book flows well, the author uses an interesting creative tool, as Grace is a writer, working her book thoughts into her chapters as she immerses herself in Asher’s world. Asher’s very controlled, manipulated, strategic and hollow world. That is until Grace spills his Macallan 25 all over him. Just by being who she is, Grace begins to unravel the carefully crafted life Asher has built- the one looking for approval from his father. Until a choice needs to be made. This book has heat that spices up the pages. Well thought out showing the progression of their relationship. Asher and Grace spiced up a couple of my nights. Natalia also gives us a peek into the next Caine to take the fall.
Grace Morgan has graduated from NYU with a degree in creative writing and a dream to become a published author. Only things are not going according to plan. Needing a way to pay the rent, her bestie and roommate Kacey helped her get a job at Haven, the elite sex club, where she is an educator.
All is going okish until she spills a drink on an uber VIP, Asher Caine. And, gets fired.
So, Asher has a proposal. He needs a wife, Grace needs cash, a marriage of convenience is a win-win for both of them.
Only Asher grew up in privilege and Grace is from a small town in Michigan.
Asher has her set up with the best stylists and wedding planner around. On the outside she appears to be his equal, but she is at heart a country mouse. And, his family is ready to pounce.
Her days become filled with writing insp all thanks to Asher and his bossy ways. Soon any line they had drawn is blurred and the marriage contract is not the only one she is signing.
Being his “good girl” becomes their routine.
But, as Asher’s goal to become CEO draws closer, his family drama creates complete havoc.
Havoc that has Grace caught in the cross hairs.
March 31, 2026
A contract marriage that was supposed to be clean, contained, and temporary… until Grace Morgan rewrote every rule Asher Caine thought he lived by.
Only For the Year delivers exactly what I crave in a marriage‑of‑convenience romance: tension that simmers from the start, a power dynamic that evolves with intention, and two characters who are far more alike than they want to admit.
Asher Caine is the kind of billionaire MMC who doesn’t need theatrics to command a room. He’s controlled, exacting, and emotionally locked down in a way that makes every crack in his armor feel earned. Grace Morgan is a talented writer with her own quiet resilience. She steps into their contract marriage thinking she can keep her heart out of it. She’s wrong, of course, and watching her realize that is half the thrill.
The forced proximity is delicious. Every shared space becomes a negotiation of boundaries, of desire, of who they’re allowed to be with each other. And when their arrangement shifts into a D/s dynamic, it’s handled with care, communication, and emotional honesty. It’s not just about control; it’s about trust, safety, and the kind of vulnerability neither of them has ever risked before.
What surprised me most is how deeply this story leans into growth. Asher learns to soften without losing his edge. Grace learns to take up space, to ask for what she wants, to let herself be wanted. Their relationship becomes more than a contract, more than a dynamic, it becomes a partnership built on choice.
The BDSM elements are woven in with care and intention, and the resulting spice is out of this world H-O-T!! Grace is a natural submissive, she thrives on the control and being able to let someone else make the choices for her. It’s a freedom she grabs Asher and he doesn’t take her submission lightly. She preens under his praise and Asher is more than willing to show her what she does to him.
And truly, this book is billionaire romance at its best with a marriage of convenience, forced proximity, emotional unraveling, power‑exchange intimacy, and a MMC who falls harder than he ever planned. It gathers all the tropes we love and executes them with precision, heart, and heat.
A huge thank you to Natalia Lourose and House of Hearts Lit for the early copy!!
Only For the Year delivers exactly what I crave in a marriage‑of‑convenience romance: tension that simmers from the start, a power dynamic that evolves with intention, and two characters who are far more alike than they want to admit.
Asher Caine is the kind of billionaire MMC who doesn’t need theatrics to command a room. He’s controlled, exacting, and emotionally locked down in a way that makes every crack in his armor feel earned. Grace Morgan is a talented writer with her own quiet resilience. She steps into their contract marriage thinking she can keep her heart out of it. She’s wrong, of course, and watching her realize that is half the thrill.
The forced proximity is delicious. Every shared space becomes a negotiation of boundaries, of desire, of who they’re allowed to be with each other. And when their arrangement shifts into a D/s dynamic, it’s handled with care, communication, and emotional honesty. It’s not just about control; it’s about trust, safety, and the kind of vulnerability neither of them has ever risked before.
What surprised me most is how deeply this story leans into growth. Asher learns to soften without losing his edge. Grace learns to take up space, to ask for what she wants, to let herself be wanted. Their relationship becomes more than a contract, more than a dynamic, it becomes a partnership built on choice.
The BDSM elements are woven in with care and intention, and the resulting spice is out of this world H-O-T!! Grace is a natural submissive, she thrives on the control and being able to let someone else make the choices for her. It’s a freedom she grabs Asher and he doesn’t take her submission lightly. She preens under his praise and Asher is more than willing to show her what she does to him.
And truly, this book is billionaire romance at its best with a marriage of convenience, forced proximity, emotional unraveling, power‑exchange intimacy, and a MMC who falls harder than he ever planned. It gathers all the tropes we love and executes them with precision, heart, and heat.
A huge thank you to Natalia Lourose and House of Hearts Lit for the early copy!!
March 12, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
|ARC|
⋆ dual pov
⋆ fake dating
⋆ family drama
⋆ billionaire romance
⋆ BDSM + BDSM club
⋆ marriage of convenience
_____________
Well my goodness! Only for the Year is a marriage of convenience romance filled with tension and spice where we follow our FMC Grace as she tries to become a writer in the big city of New York while also trying to juggle student debt and our MMC Asher as he does everything he can to become the new CEO of his fathers company. We watch through their eyes as an accidental spill turns into a mutually beneficial year long contract and as pretending slowly blurs into truths.
My my my okay wow! These two were like actually everything. I’m so obsessed with them! Grace and Asher are such fun characters together. They are both incredibly different but when together they work so well! I loved Grace so so much, she is such a powerhouse and listen she may be cute and pure but underneath all that she is strong and knows what she wants. And of course I’m obsessed with Asher… I mean who wouldn’t be. I loved watching hing his hard exterior soften the more time he spent with Grace. Ugh I love them
I went into this book knowing that I liked the cover and that was it but let me tell it did not disappoint on the slightest! This is my first Natalia Lourose book and let me just say wow!!! I enjoyed the writing so much! It was so easy to follow, engaging and just overall really well done!! I also am in love with the way this book was formatted! The little sections dividing the characters were so fun and I think is super unique and just adds to the story!! I really enjoyed the fact that we got to see Graces writhing journey through those little chapter breaks! But wow! I definitely will be picking up another Natalia Lourose book in the future for sure and I can’t wait for the next book in this series!!
Overall, this was such an amazing read! I would like to thank Natalia Lourose and House of Hearts Lit for the incredible ARC!! I can’t wait for more to come! 💙📄🗝️
|ARC|
⋆ dual pov
⋆ fake dating
⋆ family drama
⋆ billionaire romance
⋆ BDSM + BDSM club
⋆ marriage of convenience
_____________
Well my goodness! Only for the Year is a marriage of convenience romance filled with tension and spice where we follow our FMC Grace as she tries to become a writer in the big city of New York while also trying to juggle student debt and our MMC Asher as he does everything he can to become the new CEO of his fathers company. We watch through their eyes as an accidental spill turns into a mutually beneficial year long contract and as pretending slowly blurs into truths.
My my my okay wow! These two were like actually everything. I’m so obsessed with them! Grace and Asher are such fun characters together. They are both incredibly different but when together they work so well! I loved Grace so so much, she is such a powerhouse and listen she may be cute and pure but underneath all that she is strong and knows what she wants. And of course I’m obsessed with Asher… I mean who wouldn’t be. I loved watching hing his hard exterior soften the more time he spent with Grace. Ugh I love them
I went into this book knowing that I liked the cover and that was it but let me tell it did not disappoint on the slightest! This is my first Natalia Lourose book and let me just say wow!!! I enjoyed the writing so much! It was so easy to follow, engaging and just overall really well done!! I also am in love with the way this book was formatted! The little sections dividing the characters were so fun and I think is super unique and just adds to the story!! I really enjoyed the fact that we got to see Graces writhing journey through those little chapter breaks! But wow! I definitely will be picking up another Natalia Lourose book in the future for sure and I can’t wait for the next book in this series!!
Overall, this was such an amazing read! I would like to thank Natalia Lourose and House of Hearts Lit for the incredible ARC!! I can’t wait for more to come! 💙📄🗝️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Rating: 5/5
🌶️ Spice: 4/5
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was my first book by Natalia Lourose, and I have to say, I really enjoyed her concept. Her writing style felt different in a good way, and it stood out to me. One thing I especially liked was how she included Grace’s notes between chapters. I won’t lie, it threw me off at first, but once I realized it was intentional, I appreciated how it showed Grace slowly finding her way back to writing after her hiatus.
Now, getting into the story…
We follow Grace, an anxiety-ridden, struggling author who quite literally crashes into Asher at work..by spilling a drink on him. Asher is a billionaire businessman who offers her a life-changing deal: marry him for one year, have all her bills paid, and receive one million dollars at the end of their contract.
Of course, they both agree to keep things strictly business… but we all know how that goes.
As they try (and fail) to keep emotions out of their arrangement, a trip to Bali shifts everything. Grace is aware of her growing feelings but keeps reminding herself that there’s an expiration date on their relationship. Meanwhile, Asher (who is very much a control freak) starts to experience something he can’t quite understand or control. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and the spice definitely delivers. Let’s just say Grace needed a way to get out of her head, and Asher more than helped with that *smirks* in a way that was consensual and fitting for their dynamic.
As trust builds, Grace’s writing slump begins to fade, influenced not only by their relationship but by her emotional growth. And while Asher may have all the money in the world, he quickly learns that love is something he may deserve.
Also… the Caine parents? Absolutely not. They were not winning any parenting awards.
There’s groveling, growth, and emotional payoff, and I really appreciated the character development.
Overall, I truly loved this book and will definitely be reading more from Natalia Lourose.
🌶️ Spice: 4/5
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was my first book by Natalia Lourose, and I have to say, I really enjoyed her concept. Her writing style felt different in a good way, and it stood out to me. One thing I especially liked was how she included Grace’s notes between chapters. I won’t lie, it threw me off at first, but once I realized it was intentional, I appreciated how it showed Grace slowly finding her way back to writing after her hiatus.
Now, getting into the story…
We follow Grace, an anxiety-ridden, struggling author who quite literally crashes into Asher at work..by spilling a drink on him. Asher is a billionaire businessman who offers her a life-changing deal: marry him for one year, have all her bills paid, and receive one million dollars at the end of their contract.
Of course, they both agree to keep things strictly business… but we all know how that goes.
As they try (and fail) to keep emotions out of their arrangement, a trip to Bali shifts everything. Grace is aware of her growing feelings but keeps reminding herself that there’s an expiration date on their relationship. Meanwhile, Asher (who is very much a control freak) starts to experience something he can’t quite understand or control. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and the spice definitely delivers. Let’s just say Grace needed a way to get out of her head, and Asher more than helped with that *smirks* in a way that was consensual and fitting for their dynamic.
As trust builds, Grace’s writing slump begins to fade, influenced not only by their relationship but by her emotional growth. And while Asher may have all the money in the world, he quickly learns that love is something he may deserve.
Also… the Caine parents? Absolutely not. They were not winning any parenting awards.
There’s groveling, growth, and emotional payoff, and I really appreciated the character development.
Overall, I truly loved this book and will definitely be reading more from Natalia Lourose.
March 31, 2026
Thank you so much House of Hearts for giving me the chance to read it in advance. 🫶🏻
Such an entertaining and addictive start to The Caine Dynasty series.
This story follows Grace, a broke post-grad trying to stay afloat while drowning in student loans and disappointment, and Asher Caine, a billionaire who thrives on control and contracts in every aspect of his life. When a clumsy accident gets Grace fired from her job, the last thing she expects is for the man she accidentally drenched in whiskey to offer her a deal: marry him for one year in exchange for one million dollars. 💍💰
What starts as a classic 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 arrangement quickly becomes much more complicated... 👀
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Grace and Asher. Their relationship begins as purely transactional, but the tension between them builds steadily as the lines between pretending and feeling start to blur. 🔥 Asher’s dominant personality adds an extra layer of intensity to the story, while Grace brings warmth, vulnerability, and a refreshing honesty that slowly breaks through his carefully built walls.
The book leans into some familiar romance tropes: fake marriage, billionaire hero, forced proximity but it does so in a way that feels fun and engaging rather than predictable. The chemistry between the characters is strong, the banter is entertaining, and the emotional moments land well as their connection deepens.
I also loved the little notes at the beginning of each chapter. They made it feel like we were seeing the story unfold in real time, almost as if we were writing it together with the author. It was such a fun and unique detail. ✨📖
If you enjoy 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 romances with a dominant billionaire, emotional tension, and plenty of chemistry, this is definitely a story worth picking up. 🥹
I’m really curious to see where the rest of the Caine Dynasty series will go next. 😍
⭐️ 4.5/5 - 🌶️ 3.5/5
Such an entertaining and addictive start to The Caine Dynasty series.
This story follows Grace, a broke post-grad trying to stay afloat while drowning in student loans and disappointment, and Asher Caine, a billionaire who thrives on control and contracts in every aspect of his life. When a clumsy accident gets Grace fired from her job, the last thing she expects is for the man she accidentally drenched in whiskey to offer her a deal: marry him for one year in exchange for one million dollars. 💍💰
What starts as a classic 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 arrangement quickly becomes much more complicated... 👀
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Grace and Asher. Their relationship begins as purely transactional, but the tension between them builds steadily as the lines between pretending and feeling start to blur. 🔥 Asher’s dominant personality adds an extra layer of intensity to the story, while Grace brings warmth, vulnerability, and a refreshing honesty that slowly breaks through his carefully built walls.
The book leans into some familiar romance tropes: fake marriage, billionaire hero, forced proximity but it does so in a way that feels fun and engaging rather than predictable. The chemistry between the characters is strong, the banter is entertaining, and the emotional moments land well as their connection deepens.
I also loved the little notes at the beginning of each chapter. They made it feel like we were seeing the story unfold in real time, almost as if we were writing it together with the author. It was such a fun and unique detail. ✨📖
If you enjoy 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 romances with a dominant billionaire, emotional tension, and plenty of chemistry, this is definitely a story worth picking up. 🥹
I’m really curious to see where the rest of the Caine Dynasty series will go next. 😍
⭐️ 4.5/5 - 🌶️ 3.5/5
March 18, 2026
Phew, wow what a whirlwind! First I would like to thank House of Hearts and Natalia Lourose for the EARC in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 ⭐️’s! This was an amazing book with such a good plot and storyline that I really enjoyed. Grace stepped way out of her comfort zone trying to make it in NYC, and the growth you saw in her character and just in her confidence was so fun to read about. Asher grew so much, growing up in a complicated family dynamic such as his can really make your thoughts and feelings not make sense, and he definitely struggled with that. My favorite thing about this book is that both individual characters went through growth, together but also apart. Grace tried something she wasn’t sure she ever wanted, and in his own way so did Asher. I loved the way she took inspiration from their story and made it into her book, and loved the new story idea pages, that was fun. But oh man, does Asher have my heart, that man… the way he came back and respected her enough to not demand or push her into accepting him back but gave her space while simply reminding her that he was there and in love with her was such a refreshing plot line. Her also taking her time and not falling back into his arms the second she sees him again was refreshing. Let’s not forget the smut… AMAZING! 🫢🩷
I will say the only reason it was 4 stars instead of 5 for me, was that the timeline of the story jumped a lot. I had a hard time keeping up with it, and all the sudden it was a whole different month. Not something that stopped me from reading but something that left me confused.
Overall an amazing read, and I devoured it every free second I could! If you love a marriage of convenience or contract like myself, plus throwing in some BDSM and a billionaire. This is definitely the book for you.
4/5 ⭐️’s! This was an amazing book with such a good plot and storyline that I really enjoyed. Grace stepped way out of her comfort zone trying to make it in NYC, and the growth you saw in her character and just in her confidence was so fun to read about. Asher grew so much, growing up in a complicated family dynamic such as his can really make your thoughts and feelings not make sense, and he definitely struggled with that. My favorite thing about this book is that both individual characters went through growth, together but also apart. Grace tried something she wasn’t sure she ever wanted, and in his own way so did Asher. I loved the way she took inspiration from their story and made it into her book, and loved the new story idea pages, that was fun. But oh man, does Asher have my heart, that man… the way he came back and respected her enough to not demand or push her into accepting him back but gave her space while simply reminding her that he was there and in love with her was such a refreshing plot line. Her also taking her time and not falling back into his arms the second she sees him again was refreshing. Let’s not forget the smut… AMAZING! 🫢🩷
I will say the only reason it was 4 stars instead of 5 for me, was that the timeline of the story jumped a lot. I had a hard time keeping up with it, and all the sudden it was a whole different month. Not something that stopped me from reading but something that left me confused.
Overall an amazing read, and I devoured it every free second I could! If you love a marriage of convenience or contract like myself, plus throwing in some BDSM and a billionaire. This is definitely the book for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2026
💍Only for a Year ARC Review💍
Only for the Year by Natalia Lourose serves as the inaugural novel in the Caine Dynasty Series. The narrative centers on Grace Morgan and Asher Caine, whose relationship is characterized by notable tension, compelling chemistry, and a strong emotional bond.
Grace Morgan emerges as a relatable protagonist, striving to manage post-college challenges such as debt and the apprehension of early failure. The narrative effectively conveys her internal pressures. An accidental encounter with Asher—a result of spilling a drink on the wrong billionaire and subsequently losing her job—initiates significant changes in her life. Grace's vulnerability and resolve contribute to her authenticity as a character.
Asher Caine is a billionaire hero who captivates everyone’s curiosity. He is meticulous, reserved, and accustomed to maintaining emotional distance in his relationships. His life revolves around strict contracts and regulations. Witnessing his carefully maintained façade begins to crumble as he grows closer to Grace was among the highlights of the narrative. Underneath his aloof manner lies someone who experiences far more emotion than he cares to acknowledge.
The dynamic between Grace and Asher develops notably from the outset, intensifying as their initially fabricated marriage transitions into a more genuine relationship. The evolving nature of their interactions presents a compelling narrative, as the arrangement becomes increasingly complex with the introduction of genuine emotions. Their gradual openness and vulnerability contribute to the authenticity and depth of their partnership, enhancing the overall satisfaction derived from the storyline.
Story - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice - 🌶️🌶️🌶️
𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼
💍 Marriage of Convenience
💙 Billionaire
💍 Fake Dating
💙 BDSM + BDSM Club
💍 Praise + Degradation
💙 D/s Dynamic
💍 Family Drama
Only for the Year by Natalia Lourose serves as the inaugural novel in the Caine Dynasty Series. The narrative centers on Grace Morgan and Asher Caine, whose relationship is characterized by notable tension, compelling chemistry, and a strong emotional bond.
Grace Morgan emerges as a relatable protagonist, striving to manage post-college challenges such as debt and the apprehension of early failure. The narrative effectively conveys her internal pressures. An accidental encounter with Asher—a result of spilling a drink on the wrong billionaire and subsequently losing her job—initiates significant changes in her life. Grace's vulnerability and resolve contribute to her authenticity as a character.
Asher Caine is a billionaire hero who captivates everyone’s curiosity. He is meticulous, reserved, and accustomed to maintaining emotional distance in his relationships. His life revolves around strict contracts and regulations. Witnessing his carefully maintained façade begins to crumble as he grows closer to Grace was among the highlights of the narrative. Underneath his aloof manner lies someone who experiences far more emotion than he cares to acknowledge.
The dynamic between Grace and Asher develops notably from the outset, intensifying as their initially fabricated marriage transitions into a more genuine relationship. The evolving nature of their interactions presents a compelling narrative, as the arrangement becomes increasingly complex with the introduction of genuine emotions. Their gradual openness and vulnerability contribute to the authenticity and depth of their partnership, enhancing the overall satisfaction derived from the storyline.
Story - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice - 🌶️🌶️🌶️
𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼
💍 Marriage of Convenience
💙 Billionaire
💍 Fake Dating
💙 BDSM + BDSM Club
💍 Praise + Degradation
💙 D/s Dynamic
💍 Family Drama
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
I signed up for this one the moment I saw the tropes announced through house of hearts. I’m always really interested to see how authors present BDSM in books, and Natalia absolutely nailed it here. Please note this is the very first Natalia book that I’ve ever read, and I will now proceed to get through her entire backlog.
Grace working at Asher’s brother’s club immediately pulled me in. The moment she spills a drink on him, gets fired, and that single event leads to her meeting Asher and signing a one-year marriage contract with him? I was hooked. None of that is a spoiler—it’s all right there at the beginning—but it sets up such a fun dynamic.
Asher notices almost immediately that Grace has submissive tendencies, and that intrigues him. But it’s not just that. He’s drawn to so many other things about her too. He loves that she’s spunky, that she has a spunky best friend, and that she can absolutely hold her own when she’s around his family. That’s a huge thing, especially considering his family is… a little chaotic.
And yet, what I loved is that Asher also genuinely adores Grace’s family. Since the two of them are entering into a marriage—even if it’s contractual—of course the families have to meet, and those interactions were some of my favorite moments.
They’re getting married to fulfill specific needs for both of them, and I’m purposely being vague about those reasons because they’re part of the story and I don’t want to spoil anything. What I can say is that watching their dynamic develop was fantastic.
I loved the rules Asher puts in place for Grace. I loved seeing her expand her circle and grow into this new world. And honestly, the siblings in Asher’s family are all a little bit messed up, which just makes me even more excited because I’m almost certain this is going to turn into a series—and I want every single one of their stories.
This was easily a five-star read for me.
Now, you do have to take my ratings with a grain of salt because I don’t usually sign up to read books I don’t think I’ll enjoy. But this one? I genuinely liked it so much.
Grace working at Asher’s brother’s club immediately pulled me in. The moment she spills a drink on him, gets fired, and that single event leads to her meeting Asher and signing a one-year marriage contract with him? I was hooked. None of that is a spoiler—it’s all right there at the beginning—but it sets up such a fun dynamic.
Asher notices almost immediately that Grace has submissive tendencies, and that intrigues him. But it’s not just that. He’s drawn to so many other things about her too. He loves that she’s spunky, that she has a spunky best friend, and that she can absolutely hold her own when she’s around his family. That’s a huge thing, especially considering his family is… a little chaotic.
And yet, what I loved is that Asher also genuinely adores Grace’s family. Since the two of them are entering into a marriage—even if it’s contractual—of course the families have to meet, and those interactions were some of my favorite moments.
They’re getting married to fulfill specific needs for both of them, and I’m purposely being vague about those reasons because they’re part of the story and I don’t want to spoil anything. What I can say is that watching their dynamic develop was fantastic.
I loved the rules Asher puts in place for Grace. I loved seeing her expand her circle and grow into this new world. And honestly, the siblings in Asher’s family are all a little bit messed up, which just makes me even more excited because I’m almost certain this is going to turn into a series—and I want every single one of their stories.
This was easily a five-star read for me.
Now, you do have to take my ratings with a grain of salt because I don’t usually sign up to read books I don’t think I’ll enjoy. But this one? I genuinely liked it so much.
March 20, 2026
I love me a good marriage of convenience and adding to that the exploration of Grace‘s sexual wants and needs when she meets Asher and realises that she likes him taking control- simply chef's kiss.
Grace and Asher meet in Asher's brother's kink club, where Grace accidentally spills a drink on Asher and gets fired for it. Broke and unemployed Grace gets the offer of a lifetime from Asher: marry him for a year and get one million dollars. Easy right? Well, what Grace didn't take into consideration was that during their time together, she would not only start to explore her sexual wants and needs, but also that these unexpected feelings would creep up along the way, and the whole mess and drama that is Asher's family.
One thing that I truly loved about the book was how relatable Grace is, there were so many scenes that I can relate to on such a deep level, from the constant self doubt and the questioning of what you are doing with your life and if you can actually do what you love doing to things she does like staying in bed all day reading or having to have something play in the background on your TV.
Oh, and if that wasn't enough to convince you to read the book, here is a little sneak peek of Asher and Grace's first kiss:
"This is a bad idea.
This is supposed to be fake.
There should be boundaries.
But any boundaries there might have been come crumbling down when his lips press against mine."
What you can expect from Asher and Grace‘s story:
💍Marriage of Convenience
💍BDSM and BDSM Club
💍D/S Relationship Dynamics
💍Forced Proximity (she moves in with him)
💍Fake Dating
💍Family Drama
💍Billionaire MMC and Broke Writer FMC
Thank you for the ARC House of Hearts and Natalia Lourose - all opinions are my own.
Grace and Asher meet in Asher's brother's kink club, where Grace accidentally spills a drink on Asher and gets fired for it. Broke and unemployed Grace gets the offer of a lifetime from Asher: marry him for a year and get one million dollars. Easy right? Well, what Grace didn't take into consideration was that during their time together, she would not only start to explore her sexual wants and needs, but also that these unexpected feelings would creep up along the way, and the whole mess and drama that is Asher's family.
One thing that I truly loved about the book was how relatable Grace is, there were so many scenes that I can relate to on such a deep level, from the constant self doubt and the questioning of what you are doing with your life and if you can actually do what you love doing to things she does like staying in bed all day reading or having to have something play in the background on your TV.
Oh, and if that wasn't enough to convince you to read the book, here is a little sneak peek of Asher and Grace's first kiss:
"This is a bad idea.
This is supposed to be fake.
There should be boundaries.
But any boundaries there might have been come crumbling down when his lips press against mine."
What you can expect from Asher and Grace‘s story:
💍Marriage of Convenience
💍BDSM and BDSM Club
💍D/S Relationship Dynamics
💍Forced Proximity (she moves in with him)
💍Fake Dating
💍Family Drama
💍Billionaire MMC and Broke Writer FMC
Thank you for the ARC House of Hearts and Natalia Lourose - all opinions are my own.
March 29, 2026
I went in expecting a typical marriage of convenience setup, but it ended up having so much more emotion and tension than I thought it would.
Grace was such an easy character to root for. She is overwhelmed, broke, and trying to figure out her life, but she still has this softness that makes you want everything to work out for her. Asher was the complete opposite. Sharp, guarded, and so used to control that he barely knows who he is without it. Watching these two fall into each other’s lives felt messy, intense, and addictive.
Their arrangement starts out strictly practical, but the shift from convenience to something much deeper was my favorite part. The chemistry between them is strong from the start, but it is the small moments that make their relationship feel real. The way Grace slowly pulls Asher out of his shell. The way he supports her creativity when she doubts herself. The way they both start forgetting that the clock is ticking on their year.
The steam definitely delivers, but it always serves the emotional side of their dynamic too. And Asher’s family… they added a whole different layer to the story. Every scene with them made me want to reach into the book and drag Grace away for safety. The little glimpses into the Caine siblings make me hope this turns into a series because they all feel like they have stories waiting.
Overall, this had tension, heat, and a surprising amount of heart. It is the kind of romance that starts with a deal and ends with two people slowly realizing they want more than they ever planned for. I really enjoyed it and I am definitely picking up the next book from the author.
I received the arc copy and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Grace was such an easy character to root for. She is overwhelmed, broke, and trying to figure out her life, but she still has this softness that makes you want everything to work out for her. Asher was the complete opposite. Sharp, guarded, and so used to control that he barely knows who he is without it. Watching these two fall into each other’s lives felt messy, intense, and addictive.
Their arrangement starts out strictly practical, but the shift from convenience to something much deeper was my favorite part. The chemistry between them is strong from the start, but it is the small moments that make their relationship feel real. The way Grace slowly pulls Asher out of his shell. The way he supports her creativity when she doubts herself. The way they both start forgetting that the clock is ticking on their year.
The steam definitely delivers, but it always serves the emotional side of their dynamic too. And Asher’s family… they added a whole different layer to the story. Every scene with them made me want to reach into the book and drag Grace away for safety. The little glimpses into the Caine siblings make me hope this turns into a series because they all feel like they have stories waiting.
Overall, this had tension, heat, and a surprising amount of heart. It is the kind of romance that starts with a deal and ends with two people slowly realizing they want more than they ever planned for. I really enjoyed it and I am definitely picking up the next book from the author.
I received the arc copy and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
Only for the Year by Natalia Lourose
Grace Morgan is a post-graduate with a dream of becoming a writer. Unfortunately, she is drowning in student debt, rejection letters, and the constant fear of losing her job as a waitress at an elite, kinky club. When she accidentally spills a drink on an important client, she loses the only source of income she currently has.
But the client, Asher Caine, surprises her with an unexpected proposal: become his fake wife for one year in exchange for one million dollars. It is an opportunity she simply cannot refuse. The real question is… does she truly know what she is getting herself into?
If you enjoy billionaire romance with a touch of kink, this book might be right up your alley. The story features dual POV, fake dating, a marriage of convenience, forced proximity, instant attraction, and plenty of family secrets.
Half of the story focuses on the evolving relationship between Grace and Asher, while the other half explores the scandals and secrets surrounding Asher’s family. There are moments of intensity, especially with the danger surrounding them and Grace’s struggles with anxiety.
I particularly enjoyed how their connection deepened through their intimate moments and how that growth helped Grace become stronger in her everyday life. Her character development throughout the story was noticeable and satisfying. One of my favorite moments was when Asher finally went after her.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy steamy billionaire romances filled with emotional tension and dramatic family secrets.
Only for the Year by Natalia Lourose
Grace Morgan is a post-graduate with a dream of becoming a writer. Unfortunately, she is drowning in student debt, rejection letters, and the constant fear of losing her job as a waitress at an elite, kinky club. When she accidentally spills a drink on an important client, she loses the only source of income she currently has.
But the client, Asher Caine, surprises her with an unexpected proposal: become his fake wife for one year in exchange for one million dollars. It is an opportunity she simply cannot refuse. The real question is… does she truly know what she is getting herself into?
If you enjoy billionaire romance with a touch of kink, this book might be right up your alley. The story features dual POV, fake dating, a marriage of convenience, forced proximity, instant attraction, and plenty of family secrets.
Half of the story focuses on the evolving relationship between Grace and Asher, while the other half explores the scandals and secrets surrounding Asher’s family. There are moments of intensity, especially with the danger surrounding them and Grace’s struggles with anxiety.
I particularly enjoyed how their connection deepened through their intimate moments and how that growth helped Grace become stronger in her everyday life. Her character development throughout the story was noticeable and satisfying. One of my favorite moments was when Asher finally went after her.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy steamy billionaire romances filled with emotional tension and dramatic family secrets.
March 17, 2026
Only For The Year by Natalia Lourose
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️.5
Frist thanks to House of Lit for this advance copy! I had never read anything by Natalia Lourose before, and I am so glad that I can’t say that any longer and I can't wait to read the coming books in this series about his siblings
OMG! This would have been a one-day book if life didn’t get in the way, I was drawn in chapter one and didn’t want to put the kindle away.
Asher is a billionaire that grew up in a super-rich family that always wanted a perfect image and perfect kids to follow in the parent’s footsteps and of course this leads them to be shut off from emotions and thinking love is a hindrance rather than something that they should find in life and make life better
Grace grew up in a middle-class family in Michigan that learned to be kind, looking for love like her parents. She grew up being shown what love is and what it should look like.
Grace was at her wits end and is about to let her dream die and move back home, until she runs into Asher and he is enthralled with her since that meeting. He gives her a proposition since he needs a wife to get ahead in the company.
It starts out innocent but as any good billionaire romance book goes, that doesn’t last long as they need to make it look real around people, and the boundaries blur.
The contract ends and she is broken but so is he. Sometimes you need a swift kick in the ass to realize what you have lost and what you don’t want anymore.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️.5
Frist thanks to House of Lit for this advance copy! I had never read anything by Natalia Lourose before, and I am so glad that I can’t say that any longer and I can't wait to read the coming books in this series about his siblings
OMG! This would have been a one-day book if life didn’t get in the way, I was drawn in chapter one and didn’t want to put the kindle away.
Asher is a billionaire that grew up in a super-rich family that always wanted a perfect image and perfect kids to follow in the parent’s footsteps and of course this leads them to be shut off from emotions and thinking love is a hindrance rather than something that they should find in life and make life better
Grace grew up in a middle-class family in Michigan that learned to be kind, looking for love like her parents. She grew up being shown what love is and what it should look like.
Grace was at her wits end and is about to let her dream die and move back home, until she runs into Asher and he is enthralled with her since that meeting. He gives her a proposition since he needs a wife to get ahead in the company.
It starts out innocent but as any good billionaire romance book goes, that doesn’t last long as they need to make it look real around people, and the boundaries blur.
The contract ends and she is broken but so is he. Sometimes you need a swift kick in the ass to realize what you have lost and what you don’t want anymore.
March 30, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ (rounded up)
A recent grad struggling with writers block while she works on her debut novel, Grace has gotten a job as a cocktail server a sex club via her best friend's hookup. But when she spills whiskey on a high-profile client, she's fired and immediately begins spiraling about how she's going to pay her bills without being forced to leave NYC and head back to the midwest to live with her parents.
While Grace is spinning out, Asher Caine, the high-profile billionaire client she spilled on, sees her misstep as the solution to his biggest problem in life. His problem? In order to take over his family's business, he needs a wife. And fast.
Asher makes Grace an offer that he knows she can't pass up. She agrees to marry him for a year. In return, Asher pays off her student loans and pays her a million dollars. But the more time they spend together, the more Asher realizes he wants Grace to stay, and Grace realizes that maybe this act Asher's putting on isn't so fake anymore either.
I've read a few marriage of convenience and billionaire romances and while I generally enjoyed Only for the Year, there was just something missing that I couldn't quite put my finger on that would've pushed it into solid 4 ⭐️ status. That being said, there are multiple stories that I'm excited to read that were hinted at in book one, so I'll still be patiently waiting for the next in the series!
Thank you to House of Hearts Lit for an advanced copy for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A recent grad struggling with writers block while she works on her debut novel, Grace has gotten a job as a cocktail server a sex club via her best friend's hookup. But when she spills whiskey on a high-profile client, she's fired and immediately begins spiraling about how she's going to pay her bills without being forced to leave NYC and head back to the midwest to live with her parents.
While Grace is spinning out, Asher Caine, the high-profile billionaire client she spilled on, sees her misstep as the solution to his biggest problem in life. His problem? In order to take over his family's business, he needs a wife. And fast.
Asher makes Grace an offer that he knows she can't pass up. She agrees to marry him for a year. In return, Asher pays off her student loans and pays her a million dollars. But the more time they spend together, the more Asher realizes he wants Grace to stay, and Grace realizes that maybe this act Asher's putting on isn't so fake anymore either.
I've read a few marriage of convenience and billionaire romances and while I generally enjoyed Only for the Year, there was just something missing that I couldn't quite put my finger on that would've pushed it into solid 4 ⭐️ status. That being said, there are multiple stories that I'm excited to read that were hinted at in book one, so I'll still be patiently waiting for the next in the series!
Thank you to House of Hearts Lit for an advanced copy for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 2, 2026
Grace Morgan is a broke post-grad, just trying to pay the bills and dreading crawling back to her hometown as a failure. She waitresses at an elite kink club, or at least, she DID... until she accidentally spills a drink on the wrong billionaire and gets fired.
Lucky for her (perhaps, depending on your view 😅) said billionaire, Asher, needs to get married if he wants to inherit his family's empire. She needs money and he needs a wife, so he proposes a contract: one year of marriage in exchange for 1 million dollars. Simple enough. Except for that pesky forced proximity, leading to a deepening connection and lines that quickly start to become blurred. Their arrangement shifts into dom/sub territory as Grace explores Ashers world and looks deeper into herself. As the end of the contract approaches, will Grace risk everything to stay, or will they part ways?
Both characters definitely have some major growth here; Grace blossomed emotionally and gained confidence in herself and her worth, becoming stronger and a little sassy. Asher learns that he can soften his edges but maintain control, and that he is deserving of love. A dom/sub relationship is very prevalent in this story; if you are uncomfortable reading about someone exploring BDSM and explicit on page portrayal, go ahead and skip this one. Otherwise this one is full of tension, spice, and everything nice (well, for good girls 😉)
Thank you so much to House of Hearts Lit and the author for allowing me to read and review. All opinions are my own.
Lucky for her (perhaps, depending on your view 😅) said billionaire, Asher, needs to get married if he wants to inherit his family's empire. She needs money and he needs a wife, so he proposes a contract: one year of marriage in exchange for 1 million dollars. Simple enough. Except for that pesky forced proximity, leading to a deepening connection and lines that quickly start to become blurred. Their arrangement shifts into dom/sub territory as Grace explores Ashers world and looks deeper into herself. As the end of the contract approaches, will Grace risk everything to stay, or will they part ways?
Both characters definitely have some major growth here; Grace blossomed emotionally and gained confidence in herself and her worth, becoming stronger and a little sassy. Asher learns that he can soften his edges but maintain control, and that he is deserving of love. A dom/sub relationship is very prevalent in this story; if you are uncomfortable reading about someone exploring BDSM and explicit on page portrayal, go ahead and skip this one. Otherwise this one is full of tension, spice, and everything nice (well, for good girls 😉)
Thank you so much to House of Hearts Lit and the author for allowing me to read and review. All opinions are my own.
March 28, 2026
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5 stars)
I went into Only for a Year expecting something very predictable and honestly, I assumed it would follow a typical Fifty Shades of Grey style storyline. But I was pleasantly surprised by how much more depth this story offered, especially in the emotional development of the characters.
What really stood out to me was the dynamic between Grace and Asher. Their relationship isn’t just about control on the surface. it’s about trust, growth, and learning how to navigate personal struggles in a healthy way. Grace starts off battling a lot of self-doubt and insecurity, and watching her gradually find confidence in herself was one of the strongest parts of the book. Asher’s ability to take charge in moments where she feels overwhelmed creates a balance that actually helps her grow, rather than hold her back. Asher struggles to let people in and doesn’t feel like people like him are capable of being loved.
I also appreciated how the story explored different family dynamics and how those shaped both characters. It added layers that made the relationship feel more grounded and meaningful, instead of just focusing on the romance alone.
Overall, this was much more than I expected. It’s a story about vulnerability, trust, and personal strength wrapped in a relationship that challenges both characters to become better versions of themselves.
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5 stars)
I went into Only for a Year expecting something very predictable and honestly, I assumed it would follow a typical Fifty Shades of Grey style storyline. But I was pleasantly surprised by how much more depth this story offered, especially in the emotional development of the characters.
What really stood out to me was the dynamic between Grace and Asher. Their relationship isn’t just about control on the surface. it’s about trust, growth, and learning how to navigate personal struggles in a healthy way. Grace starts off battling a lot of self-doubt and insecurity, and watching her gradually find confidence in herself was one of the strongest parts of the book. Asher’s ability to take charge in moments where she feels overwhelmed creates a balance that actually helps her grow, rather than hold her back. Asher struggles to let people in and doesn’t feel like people like him are capable of being loved.
I also appreciated how the story explored different family dynamics and how those shaped both characters. It added layers that made the relationship feel more grounded and meaningful, instead of just focusing on the romance alone.
Overall, this was much more than I expected. It’s a story about vulnerability, trust, and personal strength wrapped in a relationship that challenges both characters to become better versions of themselves.
March 31, 2026
This was a fun, trope-filled billionaire romance with just the right amount of spice and emotional tension to keep me turning the pages. Natalia Lourose delivers on the “marriage of convenience turned unexpectedly real” concept, and while it doesn’t reinvent the trope, it’s undeniably entertaining.
Grace and Asher’s chemistry sparks immediately — their first encounter, a literal mess of spilled whiskey and awkward apologies, sets the tone for a story that walks a tightrope between control and surrender. I really liked Grace’s mix of honesty and vulnerability; she’s not your typical naive heroine, and her financial desperation felt grounded and relatable. Asher, meanwhile, hits all the classic billionaire beats — brooding, closed-off, commanding — but Lourose gives him enough emotional layers to soften the cliché.
The pacing dips a bit in the middle, with repetitive internal monologues and a few predictable third-act beats, but the payoff is satisfying enough that I didn’t mind too much. The spice scenes are well-written and definitely deliver for fans of the dominant-alpha dynamic, though I do wish a few emotional moments had been given as much detail as the physical ones.
Overall, Only for the Year is a steamy, low-angst marriage-of-convenience story. It’s a fast, sexy read with a hint of genuine heart beneath the glossy billionaire surface.
Grace and Asher’s chemistry sparks immediately — their first encounter, a literal mess of spilled whiskey and awkward apologies, sets the tone for a story that walks a tightrope between control and surrender. I really liked Grace’s mix of honesty and vulnerability; she’s not your typical naive heroine, and her financial desperation felt grounded and relatable. Asher, meanwhile, hits all the classic billionaire beats — brooding, closed-off, commanding — but Lourose gives him enough emotional layers to soften the cliché.
The pacing dips a bit in the middle, with repetitive internal monologues and a few predictable third-act beats, but the payoff is satisfying enough that I didn’t mind too much. The spice scenes are well-written and definitely deliver for fans of the dominant-alpha dynamic, though I do wish a few emotional moments had been given as much detail as the physical ones.
Overall, Only for the Year is a steamy, low-angst marriage-of-convenience story. It’s a fast, sexy read with a hint of genuine heart beneath the glossy billionaire surface.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First, I’d like to thank Natalia Lourose and House Of Hearts for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest and spoiler free review of Only For The Year!
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
My Thoughts:
I have read quite a few billionaire marriage of convenience stories but this one really kept me entertained the entire way through. To have our main characters meet while one is waitressing at an elite kink club definitely set the tone for what is going to happen. The pairing of Grace and Asher was one that had me curious especially since Grace is such a hardworking person that just wants to make it in the world of authors. Accepting a proposal from Asher threw her life into a complete whirlwind and I was happy to be on the journey with them.
I loved the growth that we got with this two characters, especially seeing Grace become more sure and confident of herself the more time she spends with Asher. The Dom/sub relationship played out beautifully in this story and I liked seeing how these two meshed well together. Not only did we get a fun pairing, but we also got amazing character growth and a glimpse into the Caine family and the scandals and secrets that follow. Overall, this book was great exposure to Natalia Lourose and I cannot wait to read more from her!
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
My Thoughts:
I have read quite a few billionaire marriage of convenience stories but this one really kept me entertained the entire way through. To have our main characters meet while one is waitressing at an elite kink club definitely set the tone for what is going to happen. The pairing of Grace and Asher was one that had me curious especially since Grace is such a hardworking person that just wants to make it in the world of authors. Accepting a proposal from Asher threw her life into a complete whirlwind and I was happy to be on the journey with them.
I loved the growth that we got with this two characters, especially seeing Grace become more sure and confident of herself the more time she spends with Asher. The Dom/sub relationship played out beautifully in this story and I liked seeing how these two meshed well together. Not only did we get a fun pairing, but we also got amazing character growth and a glimpse into the Caine family and the scandals and secrets that follow. Overall, this book was great exposure to Natalia Lourose and I cannot wait to read more from her!
March 23, 2026
This book gives off 50 Shades vibes, and is rather spicy.
I loved the Grace's best friend and her dad. Both threatened Asher the first time they met him. 🤣 Asher's family is....messed up. His parents are atrocious. I like Gabe and Wren may be decent too. Dove could be if she got away from her parents.
Asher came off as a cold and controlling billionaire but he was different with Grace. Not right away, but you could see it happening. Grace was an aspiring author and it sounds like I would like her books. 😁
The best part about this book though? His grand gesture. I have never read about one like it before and was swooning. Read it to find out what he did!
💥 Lines:
Money speaks a language more effective than words. And when you don't have it, you might as well be useless.
"Please don't tell me you have your whole bookcase shoved in here. (her luggage)" My lack if response is all the confirmation she needs, and she groans. "You're so weird!" "You're weird!" I shout back. "I have special editions in there." 🤣
"I'm just going to get to know them the old-fashioned way, by talking to them and asking questions." Kacey scoffs. "No one does that anymore. Internet recon is the way to go."
I have a bad habit of quitting things if I'm not immediately good at them.
I loved the Grace's best friend and her dad. Both threatened Asher the first time they met him. 🤣 Asher's family is....messed up. His parents are atrocious. I like Gabe and Wren may be decent too. Dove could be if she got away from her parents.
Asher came off as a cold and controlling billionaire but he was different with Grace. Not right away, but you could see it happening. Grace was an aspiring author and it sounds like I would like her books. 😁
The best part about this book though? His grand gesture. I have never read about one like it before and was swooning. Read it to find out what he did!
💥 Lines:
Money speaks a language more effective than words. And when you don't have it, you might as well be useless.
"Please don't tell me you have your whole bookcase shoved in here. (her luggage)" My lack if response is all the confirmation she needs, and she groans. "You're so weird!" "You're weird!" I shout back. "I have special editions in there." 🤣
"I'm just going to get to know them the old-fashioned way, by talking to them and asking questions." Kacey scoffs. "No one does that anymore. Internet recon is the way to go."
I have a bad habit of quitting things if I'm not immediately good at them.
April 2, 2026
Are you kidding me?! Was I in tears towards the end?? Absolutely!
One thing about me if a book moves me, like makes me sweat, melt, grin and cry it’s getting all the stars !!!! It’s about the vibes, and this book gave them all to me !!!!
Grace is an aspiring author, moved to the big city to make her dreams come true but it’s THE CITY and as we know it’s expensive! She’s working a this exclusive club called Haven and as fate will have it she meets Asher by accident. By accident I mean spills his drink on him. Not knowing who he is, how important he is but she soon will find out.
Asher is a billionaire, following his fathers steps, comes from an elite family in which you have to be the best, you have to be perfect, there’s no room for love or weaknesses. He wants to inherit his dads company from him but his dad has rules whoever takes over has to follow. So he comes up with a plan that involves the waitress who lost her job.
Things become and feel too real. What parts are all for show and what parts are real? I enjoyed reading their story, the BDSM accepts, how their relationship grew. You can feel their chemistry. I loved seeing his possessive the man was but also so sweet and attentive with her.
It was deliciously good
One thing about me if a book moves me, like makes me sweat, melt, grin and cry it’s getting all the stars !!!! It’s about the vibes, and this book gave them all to me !!!!
Grace is an aspiring author, moved to the big city to make her dreams come true but it’s THE CITY and as we know it’s expensive! She’s working a this exclusive club called Haven and as fate will have it she meets Asher by accident. By accident I mean spills his drink on him. Not knowing who he is, how important he is but she soon will find out.
Asher is a billionaire, following his fathers steps, comes from an elite family in which you have to be the best, you have to be perfect, there’s no room for love or weaknesses. He wants to inherit his dads company from him but his dad has rules whoever takes over has to follow. So he comes up with a plan that involves the waitress who lost her job.
Things become and feel too real. What parts are all for show and what parts are real? I enjoyed reading their story, the BDSM accepts, how their relationship grew. You can feel their chemistry. I loved seeing his possessive the man was but also so sweet and attentive with her.
It was deliciously good
March 30, 2026
That is the way to start a book with a bang! The opening hooked me immediately, Lourose wastes absolutely no time pulling you into the drama.
I honestly thought I wouldn't want to read another BDSM contemporary contract marriage romance. The market is so saturated with them that they've started to blur together. But damn, this one is good. There's something about the pacing and the chemistry between the leads that kept me turning pages when I fully intended to put it down.
If you want a 50 Shades experience but condensed into one satisfying book without the drawn-out trilogy commitment, this is exactly that. Same electric tension, same guilty-pleasure energy — but tighter and more focused.
So why only three stars? For me, the middle dragged in places, and some of the conflict felt a little too manufactured to keep the couple apart. The contract premise, while fun, wasn't always explored as deeply as I'd have liked. I wanted more nuance from both leads in the second act.
That said, if this genre is your go-to comfort read, you'll likely bump this up to four or even five stars. It absolutely delivers on its promises.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I honestly thought I wouldn't want to read another BDSM contemporary contract marriage romance. The market is so saturated with them that they've started to blur together. But damn, this one is good. There's something about the pacing and the chemistry between the leads that kept me turning pages when I fully intended to put it down.
If you want a 50 Shades experience but condensed into one satisfying book without the drawn-out trilogy commitment, this is exactly that. Same electric tension, same guilty-pleasure energy — but tighter and more focused.
So why only three stars? For me, the middle dragged in places, and some of the conflict felt a little too manufactured to keep the couple apart. The contract premise, while fun, wasn't always explored as deeply as I'd have liked. I wanted more nuance from both leads in the second act.
That said, if this genre is your go-to comfort read, you'll likely bump this up to four or even five stars. It absolutely delivers on its promises.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 31, 2026
Thanks to the author and House of Hearts Lit for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
This was my first book from this author, and it exceeded my expectations.
We’ve all read this kind of setup before, and I thought it would be boring and the same as all the other arranged marriage books. Luckily I was wrong!
The characters felt real and layered, carrying their own fears and of course emotional baggage. I loved watching Asher change from guarded and distant into someone soft and swoony. However I really enjoyed his dominant and intense energy! Grace’s growth was very enjoyable to watch. She starts off quieter and more accommodating, but slowly steps into her confidence and knows exactly what she deserves and wants.
Of course their relationship starts off as an arrangement, but the tension builds so naturally as things start to blur between what’s fake and what’s real. There’s always this underlying thought that it’s temporary, which adds that ache in your heart.
There was no over the top drama or huge twists, it was really about the slow build, their connection, and their characters developed into their full potential.
This was my first book from this author, and it exceeded my expectations.
We’ve all read this kind of setup before, and I thought it would be boring and the same as all the other arranged marriage books. Luckily I was wrong!
The characters felt real and layered, carrying their own fears and of course emotional baggage. I loved watching Asher change from guarded and distant into someone soft and swoony. However I really enjoyed his dominant and intense energy! Grace’s growth was very enjoyable to watch. She starts off quieter and more accommodating, but slowly steps into her confidence and knows exactly what she deserves and wants.
Of course their relationship starts off as an arrangement, but the tension builds so naturally as things start to blur between what’s fake and what’s real. There’s always this underlying thought that it’s temporary, which adds that ache in your heart.
There was no over the top drama or huge twists, it was really about the slow build, their connection, and their characters developed into their full potential.
April 1, 2026
This book was the perfect mix of a find yourself story and kinky aspects!
It was great to see Grace flourish, comparing how she was in the beggining of this book to the end. You can see her changing as clear as day, and not just because of Asher or despite him, we see her confidence grow, and even when everything came crashing down, she didn't let it stop her, which would have been a different reaction compared to the beginning. And Asher as well, as someone who grew up needing control, trying to live up to the expectations, we can see him changing, and that they make each other feel freer and become themselves.
But aside from their growing relationship? This story was absolutely unhinged, every twist and turn left me shocked, like jaw dropping. Did I mind one bit? Not at all, it just made the story even more interesting and intense.
This was my first book by this author and mark my words, it will not be the last! If you enjoy the billionaire trope, mentions of BDSM and fake dating / marriage of convenience, this is the book for you! ^-^
~Thank you to Natalia Lourose and House of Hearts Lit for providing me with an ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own! ~
It was great to see Grace flourish, comparing how she was in the beggining of this book to the end. You can see her changing as clear as day, and not just because of Asher or despite him, we see her confidence grow, and even when everything came crashing down, she didn't let it stop her, which would have been a different reaction compared to the beginning. And Asher as well, as someone who grew up needing control, trying to live up to the expectations, we can see him changing, and that they make each other feel freer and become themselves.
But aside from their growing relationship? This story was absolutely unhinged, every twist and turn left me shocked, like jaw dropping. Did I mind one bit? Not at all, it just made the story even more interesting and intense.
This was my first book by this author and mark my words, it will not be the last! If you enjoy the billionaire trope, mentions of BDSM and fake dating / marriage of convenience, this is the book for you! ^-^
~Thank you to Natalia Lourose and House of Hearts Lit for providing me with an ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own! ~
March 19, 2026
I received this as an ARC from House of Hearts Lit and the author
•Marriage of Convenience
•Fake Dating
•Billionaire Romance
•BDSM
I saw marriage of convenience and said say less. I didn't need to know anything else.
If you like billionaire romances and a touch of kink, you'll probably enjoy this. Asher and Grace have a d/s dynamic that eventually becomes a contract. Grace is a natural sub and Asher is instantly drawn to that side of her. Grace may work in a BDSM club (for now) but has no idea about the lifestyle. I really liked their relationship. I like how Asher didn't just use the dynamic for sexual purposes, he also used it to help Grace with her anxiety.
I am so invested in the Caine siblings. Kacey and Gabe? I am going to eat that book up. I can already tell. So interested to see who Wren inevitably settles down with. And I hope Dove is able to get a story too. A rebirth as so discovered who she is. Their parents can choke. My only complaint is we didn't see the fallout at the end. So I'm hoping the next book picks up there cause I'm NOSY
•Marriage of Convenience
•Fake Dating
•Billionaire Romance
•BDSM
I saw marriage of convenience and said say less. I didn't need to know anything else.
If you like billionaire romances and a touch of kink, you'll probably enjoy this. Asher and Grace have a d/s dynamic that eventually becomes a contract. Grace is a natural sub and Asher is instantly drawn to that side of her. Grace may work in a BDSM club (for now) but has no idea about the lifestyle. I really liked their relationship. I like how Asher didn't just use the dynamic for sexual purposes, he also used it to help Grace with her anxiety.
I am so invested in the Caine siblings. Kacey and Gabe? I am going to eat that book up. I can already tell. So interested to see who Wren inevitably settles down with. And I hope Dove is able to get a story too. A rebirth as so discovered who she is. Their parents can choke. My only complaint is we didn't see the fallout at the end. So I'm hoping the next book picks up there cause I'm NOSY
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