"Elara Vance has spent her life following the rules. Orphaned and taken in by the powerful Ashworth family, she repaid their charity with unwavering loyalty, a brilliant business mind, and a dutiful marriage to their spoiled son, Alistair.
Her only rebellion is her lover—a captivating, intense younger man she’s kept as a secret for three years. To Elara, he’s an escape; a beautiful, passionate distraction from her gilded cage.
Whew Shantel!! The emotions that you pulled out of me on this one! 🥹 Elara had such a kind heart, but she allowed her kindness to be taken advantage of big time! Losing her parents at thirteen was a huge loss. However, her mother's best friend and his wife took her in. They cared for her, sent her to the best schools, and made her a part of their family. All seemed well from the outside looking in, but her loyalty and duty was starting to wear her down. Especially now that she was married to Alastair Ashworth, who was jealous of her accomplishments, and felt that she turned his family against him.
Elara's only saving grace was her "secret" Julian. Her young boy toy, who made her feel alive, loves her, and gives her the will to push forward. But when she tries to end it with Julian, she sees a different side of him that she was not expecting, and this is where the fun begins. Julian was young as he stated to Elara. However, he was not the struggling college student as she was led to believe, he was actually much, much more! 😜 The push and pull between Julian and Elara was entertaining, however, Elara was just too kindhearted and allowed the Ashworth's to just run over her! 🤬 Julian had seen enough and was ready to turn the world upside down for his woman! The devotion that Julian had for Elara was admirable, although he was a bit over the top at times! 🙄
Once Elara had finally had enough and decided to walk away from that circus she called life; she needed time to find herself after being groomed to be a savior for her adoptive family. 🥹 I enjoyed the ending as Elara wooed Julian and gave him all the love and attention that he had given her over the years. Another hit ma'am! 👍🏿👍🏿
This book absolutely floored me. She writes with such clarity about love, power, and identity - especially how easily you can lose yourself when you love without self-awareness. I loved her reminder that love isn't a verb or a chore; it's a living, moving force that should push you toward growth, not regression. This book unpacked so much about emotional accountability and self-knowledge. Easily my first five-star read of the year.
From the first sentence All That Isn’t Mine is amazing. Shantel Davis has written a book that challenges everything about the arranged marriage trope. Elara is one of the best FMCs I’ve read in a while. She is so intelligent and so strong and everyone knows it but still tries to catch her off guard and she just doesn’t let up. She knows her situation is always focused on the best possible outcome and I love her determination. Julian is a great MMC yes he has flaws and can be arrogant at times but he is also so in love that he’s just a sweetheart sometimes misguided but just such a sweetheart that does not play about his woman. Alistair and that Ashworth Family were straight up diabolical with the exception of Lionel, but my goodness these were some awful people but the way that they were written were just amazing and they also helped to make this story so amazing. This is an amazing book and I cannot recommend it enough.
I feel like the story could have used more pages to showcase their reconciliation. It felt like it was a bit rushed.
The FMC could be frustrating at times. Unbendable for the MMC that always treated her well and doing way too much for people that didn't deserve it or her. She got there in the end though. The spoiling the MMC as an apology scenes were cute.
The MMC was such a sensitive, sweet man. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of him being a ruthless business man but so emotionally open and vulnerable with the FMC.
I also liked that in the end, the FMC went on to run the company and the billionaire businessman MMC decided to retire and be a stay at home dad.
Sometimes I worry about who sees what I read in my reviews, but I don’t think that matters anyways because the best part is we’re all reading I really love this book. I did stop towards the end because I was afraid of how it was going to end, but I was not disappointed. We get the HEA and the epilogue. With a bonus epilogue because of the dual POV. This was a very great read if you love slow romances where he falls first and he is obsessed with money than this is your for you
Gurrrlllll!!! When do you not kill it?!! This was spicy angst and passionate imperfections. I loved it, cried over it, and triumphed like I'd been in it. Bravo Shantel Davis is worth every minute of your time and then some
This book honestly felt like a breath of fresh air from this author. Usually her male leads are either already married or extremely toxic, but Julian was the complete opposite. From day one he was devoted, gentle, and loyal to his woman. There wasn’t a single toxic bone in that man’s body, and that alone made him incredibly easy to adore.
Julian completely stole the show for me. While I did like Elera as a character, I didn’t feel nearly as attached to her as I did to him. He was just so soft in the best way, protective, patient, and deeply in love.
That said, the book was good, but not as great as it could have been because there were several things I really wanted to see explored more deeply. For example, when Julian ordered Quinn to destroy the Ashword family, I was genuinely curious about what actually happened to them. How did it unfold? How did they react? What was the aftermath? Since the Ashwords played such a significant role in the story, it felt strange that their downfall was brushed over so quickly.
I also found Elera quite stubborn at times. She had a tendency to make situations far more complicated than necessary, often without clear reasoning. The later part where she tries to soften Julian’s anger was sweet, but I still wished the story had spent more time showing the Ashword family’s fall and how everything truly began.
Another thing that surprised me was the imbalance in how the love felt. I could clearly feel Julian’s love for Elera throughout the story, it was constant and sincere. But when it came to Elera, I didn’t always feel the same depth. At times it almost felt like she treated him more like something she could play with rather than someone she deeply loved. Even when she said she loved him, the emotions didn’t always come across as fully convincing.
They were supposedly together for three years, but the way their relationship was portrayed sometimes made it feel like it had only lasted a few months. When she broke things off (or more accurately, when she broke up with him), Elera seemed surprisingly capable of moving on. Aside from occasionally remembering him in a physical sense, she appeared fairly comfortable living without him. If Julian hadn’t shown up at that party, it didn’t seem like she would have gone back to him or even considered leaving her husband.
Her disappearing for an entire year in another country also felt a bit extreme. It seemed like Julian was being punished without a clear reason, and when she finally returned, her attitude was still frustrating at times. Honestly, Julian must have had the patience of a saint to deal with all of that.
But I did really enjoy the epilogue. Julian was absolutely adorable there. I almost couldn’t picture him as a powerful CEO anymore, he felt more like the kind of man who happily plays with his kids in the living room and secretly loves baking sweets for them. Just a genuinely warm, soft-hearted man.
And to be honest, it’s still a little surprising that this author who usually writes very intense or toxic male leads managed to create such a loyal, sweet, and wholesome hero this time. Julian truly was the highlight of the entire book.
There are some grammatical errors, typos, and some paragraph breaks I found confusing, but the story is a surprisingly compelling one. When I started this book, I thought it was just going to be a smutty novella - I didn't look at the number of pages. The more I got into the story, the more I was pleasantly surprised. There's real depth here, development of a relationship that remained interesting despite the story starting 3 years into their courtship, and I found myself rooting for Julian and Elara.
Elara's backstory was well developed and, while I found her loyalty frustrating and misplaced, it made some sense why she was so reluctant to just let the Ashworth's go. Julian was the typical spoiled, demanding rich CEO character, but there was a heart there I thought Davis conveyed well in the text. I loved his mother Vivienne, by the way.
The story waffles just a bit when the Ashworth patriarch falls ill. That was about the point where the timeline was fuzzy and confusing for me.
But again, that's a stylistic choice that didn't work for me entirely. Overall, this was a pleasant surprise for me as someone that's never read any of this author's works before.
I absolutely love shantel but this one nope. The FMC let everyone walked over her broke her back for her husband family for 19 years claiming it's for loyalty. Even after he got someone else pregnant. She kept running back to save his family even after the used and discarded her. For some reason the man who loves her giving her everything. She spilled his secrets to them. Why even tell them about Germany? She couldn't marry because she needed to find herself after what her husband family did. But she keeps going back to that family. Make it make sense. Not to mention the one time he did something she didn't agree with she ran back that same family thinking that they had more moral compass. When she realized they didn't she disappeared for a year then just shows up at Julian's apartment. Let's be real she did not deserve Julian she deserved to be with that ex husband and his family who treats her terribly. She loves their treatment because there is no way that she compared Julian to them. I I honestly loathe her. She's horrible it never dislike someone so much. You give them chances time and time again yet with Julian you run. You left for a year. If that the case you should have haf Julian leave for a year also 🤷🏾♀️. The FMC was great at first but the more I read the more I despise her. Julian is amazing and deserved a better FMC. This is the first book I utterly detest by the author and I loved all her books. The FMC really made me dislike the book
This story of Elara and Julian started out hot as blazes and the emotions and drama were high. I immediately fell in love with this couple and rooted for their relationship even though Elara had so much baggage that wasn’t even hers really. The age-gap was a key part of her reasoning for keeping Julian at arms length but he eventually showed her to not judge him by his age. The people around Elara were the main reason Elara felt that her life didn’t have room for Julian and they were why he had to fight for her and them; but he was definitely up to the task. The HEA was so very satisfying. Brava, Ms. Davis.
This was quite melodramatic and the characters felt flat
The only part of this story that was dynamic and not robotic, were the spicy scenes and moments leading to them. I just couldn’t understood why the characters had to feel so robotic and flat and why they had to do things that were absolutely unnecessary. I’m still trying to figure out the kind of conversations they have and how they sound like some nineteenth century royal family… anyways, the story was cool but the melodrama threw me off.
Elara was overwhelmed and over burdened by that family. The grandfather was the only good one in the bunch. They exploited her loyalty and her memory of what the definition of family really means. Julian was obsessed, loved her, and wanted the best for her. They had their rough patches but they both were able to grow and the love between them was genuine. Julian wanted a future with Elara and to watch her shine. In the end they got what they both wanted. Great Book!
This was a good book Granted both the husband and the wife were both cheating however it was still honest great book The family she was married into to were a bunch of jerks who were using her Using her talant to Bail out their company because their son was an idiot I really enjoyed the grandfather Because he treated her like she was really his granddaughter I'm glad that her and Julian got together at the end and they had a beautiful family
I loved every second of reading this story! I've enjoyed Shantel Davis books before, but this....Chef's kiss!! The twists and turns were delicious and I was truly invested in Julian and Elara's journey towards their HEA. Shantel said that this book wasn't her usual style - I say more... PLEASE! I thoroughly recommend this witty and ultimately feelgood tale.
Loved reading this book, it was clear and captivating, Julien was an obsessed alpha male lol and Elara was a strong, determined, flawed woman... She knew what her end game was to be but didn't count on Julien throwing a wrench in it once he revealed who he truly was.... The smut was 🔥🔥🔥 I would recommend
LOVED IT! This book! It is everything I needed it- petty, hot sex, drama, the answer to a mystery as to why people sometimes stay stuck and it made me laugh and gasp like is this fool (villain) and his dumb sidekick serious multiple times! So good! Who needs to watch daytime drama-I will READ mine instead!
Shantel has done it again. Wow, what a great read. I loved the characters and the storyline. She was able to show a powerful man be vulnerable because of love. He is definitely no punk, just letting the woman he loves see his softer side, never giving up. This is a must read!!
Julian was down BAD!! I have never not enjoyed a Shantel Davis book, they're always gripping, delicious, chaotic and exciting. Elara made some questionable choices which is why I didnt rate it higher, it was just really hard to see her not have a back bone at times, I totally understand she felt beholden to that family but enough was enough.
I think this is one of Ms.. Davis' best work to date! She took a small piece from one of my favorite C-Dramas and made it uniquely and cohesive my her own. I loved the chemistry and dynamics between the male and female leads I loved the epilogue. Would have loved an update on Alastair, Brielle and his parents.
the book was to small for this plot so we get really lost on 'why' things were happening! it took me a few pages to understand what was the industry they were working
also her not knowing who he was just too lazy when they cleary were in the same circles!
it's so fun when they just go away ahahah they have a nice story! would have beaten the shit out of that family tho
Julian and Elara took us on a journey from the first page. There were many lessons in this story. Growth as a person, self-worth, love and respect. Elara discovered what truly made her who she was and Julian learned how to love a complicated and powerful woman. This book will grab your emotions from the beginning and not let go, even when it ends.
This book was a whirlwind of power, obsession, and complicated emotions. The dynamic between the characters was intense, layered, and at times uncomfortable—in the best way. You can feel the tension, the heartbreak, and the control struggles on every page. It’s messy, emotional, and addictive. I couldn’t put it down.
Love this, stayed up all night reading it. Going to work tired was worth it. Like I said different from Shantel’s usual crazy MMC, but still fierce. Loved the strong FMC, bad itch.
What a poignant autopsy of familial ties that bind! I like that the author provided space for both characters to grow. The swoony chemistry between Elara and Julian had me clutching my pearls. Whew! And the supporting characters were phenomenal, too!
tô apaixonada por Julian, sério. que linda v livro maravilhoso, nem construído, desenvolvido, enredo perfeito. Entendi todo sacrifício da Elara, né fácil. Amei o fato dela ir embora pra poder se "achar"
This was an amazing book i couldn't put this book down. There were so many twists and turns the ending was never what I expected it to be. Chantel Davis does it again. This author is amazing. You will love this book.
Yeah, Shantel you did it again. I didn’t know what to expect at first, but when the switch happened, I was 10 toes down for everything that happened next. I will definitely be reading this again. Highly recommend, 5 stars because I can't give 10.