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Braeburn Cliffs #1
The Grump I Married
The Hating Game
meets The Proposal, with a dash of The Fine Print—featuring a grumpy billionaire and his assistant faking it in the Scottish Highlands.
Working for Weston Kincaid should come with hazard pay—and maybe a therapist on retainer.
The man is a corporate glacier in a designer suit—arrogant, ice cold, and allergic to anything resembling a work-life balance. As his assistant, I basically run his empire, his schedule, and his caffeine supply. Holidays included.
Then his grandfather’s will drops a nuclear-level Weston must get married ASAP to inherit a jaw-dropping Scottish estate straight out of a Highland fairy tale.
Who does he choose?
Me.
female, breathing, knows his coffee order.
Romance isn't just dead—Weston buried it six feet under and salted the earth.
I quit. Then flee to a café to rage-call my bestie—only to discover (too late) that Weston’s psycho ex is in the booth behind me, listening like she bought tickets.
Within hours, every woman who might’ve considered him refuses to touch him—even for a castle.
Oops. My bad.
Cornered, Weston offers me a so much money my bank app would crash, a chance to chase my dream, and (best of all) time away from the biggest bosshole on Earth. All I have to do is live in the Highlands as his wife for a couple months.
And I don’t know whether it’s exhaustion or insanity, but I say yes.
Naturally, the universe has jokes, because somewhere between the airport and the castle, my brain decided to develop a crush on Satan in a suit.
Working for Weston Kincaid should come with hazard pay—and maybe a therapist on retainer.
The man is a corporate glacier in a designer suit—arrogant, ice cold, and allergic to anything resembling a work-life balance. As his assistant, I basically run his empire, his schedule, and his caffeine supply. Holidays included.
Then his grandfather’s will drops a nuclear-level Weston must get married ASAP to inherit a jaw-dropping Scottish estate straight out of a Highland fairy tale.
Who does he choose?
Me.
female, breathing, knows his coffee order.
Romance isn't just dead—Weston buried it six feet under and salted the earth.
I quit. Then flee to a café to rage-call my bestie—only to discover (too late) that Weston’s psycho ex is in the booth behind me, listening like she bought tickets.
Within hours, every woman who might’ve considered him refuses to touch him—even for a castle.
Oops. My bad.
Cornered, Weston offers me a so much money my bank app would crash, a chance to chase my dream, and (best of all) time away from the biggest bosshole on Earth. All I have to do is live in the Highlands as his wife for a couple months.
And I don’t know whether it’s exhaustion or insanity, but I say yes.
Naturally, the universe has jokes, because somewhere between the airport and the castle, my brain decided to develop a crush on Satan in a suit.
- GenresRomanceForced Proximity
384 pages, Paperback
Published May 28, 2026
About the author
Leslie North
661 books1,547 followersNew to Leslie? Readers suggest starting with 'The Bossy One' (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6BP3BBF) —Imagine a sunny Minnesotan Mary Poppins, employed by a grumpy Irish billionaire. The story is a blend of humor, revenge, passion, heartbreak, hope, and witty banter. As one reader put it, ‘This story had me squealing at the romantic moments and silly moments.’
Leslie North is the USA Today Bestselling pseudonym for a critically-acclaimed author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance. The anonymity allows her to fully express her creativity, especially in the romantic and fun sexy scenes!
In fact, she confesses to loving her fictional persona, Leslie North, more than her everyday self! Her bestselling books are known for their strong characters, particularly women who aren’t afraid to challenge an alpha bosshole. And the humor? So infectious, you’ll be laughing out loud in public!
Leslie’s love for romance began when she picked up a worn-out romance book from her local library. She started writing soon after, and as they say, the rest was history. She now resides in a cozy cottage on the British coast, enjoying long walks with her two Dalmatians, George and Fergie.
She LOVES reader feedback, and if you have any comments, don’t hesitate to contact her!
I'm Social Too:
Website: www.leslienorthbooks.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/leslienorthbooks
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@leslienorthcomments
Instagram:www.instagram.com/leslienorth_books
Leslie North is the USA Today Bestselling pseudonym for a critically-acclaimed author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance. The anonymity allows her to fully express her creativity, especially in the romantic and fun sexy scenes!
In fact, she confesses to loving her fictional persona, Leslie North, more than her everyday self! Her bestselling books are known for their strong characters, particularly women who aren’t afraid to challenge an alpha bosshole. And the humor? So infectious, you’ll be laughing out loud in public!
Leslie’s love for romance began when she picked up a worn-out romance book from her local library. She started writing soon after, and as they say, the rest was history. She now resides in a cozy cottage on the British coast, enjoying long walks with her two Dalmatians, George and Fergie.
She LOVES reader feedback, and if you have any comments, don’t hesitate to contact her!
I'm Social Too:
Website: www.leslienorthbooks.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/leslienorthbooks
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@leslienorthcomments
Instagram:www.instagram.com/leslienorth_books
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advanced copy received from Netgalley
1.5 ⭐️
It was entertaining, but it read like it belonged on Wattpad. Maybe even whatever’s one level lower than Wattpad, to be honest—there’s some good stuff on there.
I wasn’t buying the romance and I didn’t really care for the characters, especially Weston. The third act conflict felt like it was there solely for the sake of checking it off a list. I get the character arc it set in motion for Weston, but there had to have been a better way to do that.
This man is supposedly smart enough to run a billion-dollar company, but all we see from him is complete and utter idiocy. His reaction to Lena confiding in him only made him even less likable than he already was, and it was also just stupid.
This man truly had the emotional maturity of a five-year-old. His whole love-only-ever-hurts mentality, which he’d constantly back up using his parents’ messy divorce, was hard to believe given he was raised by his grandparents, who were a pitch-perfect example of being in real love. And him realizing that was framed as an epiphany that changed everything in literally two minutes which was insane to read. Like, are we deadass right now? It took you thirty years (I don’t even know how old the man is, to be honest) to realize that the couple who raised you were in love, congratulations.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
thank you to the publisher for the arc♡
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
I don’t think I’m going to like this at all. Hoping for a pleasant surprise. 🤞🏼
1.5 ⭐️
It was entertaining, but it read like it belonged on Wattpad. Maybe even whatever’s one level lower than Wattpad, to be honest—there’s some good stuff on there.
I wasn’t buying the romance and I didn’t really care for the characters, especially Weston. The third act conflict felt like it was there solely for the sake of checking it off a list. I get the character arc it set in motion for Weston, but there had to have been a better way to do that.
This man is supposedly smart enough to run a billion-dollar company, but all we see from him is complete and utter idiocy. His reaction to Lena confiding in him only made him even less likable than he already was, and it was also just stupid.
This man truly had the emotional maturity of a five-year-old. His whole love-only-ever-hurts mentality, which he’d constantly back up using his parents’ messy divorce, was hard to believe given he was raised by his grandparents, who were a pitch-perfect example of being in real love. And him realizing that was framed as an epiphany that changed everything in literally two minutes which was insane to read. Like, are we deadass right now? It took you thirty years (I don’t even know how old the man is, to be honest) to realize that the couple who raised you were in love, congratulations.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
thank you to the publisher for the arc♡
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
I don’t think I’m going to like this at all. Hoping for a pleasant surprise. 🤞🏼
June 7, 2026
The Ruse to Forever -
Lena and Weston’s relationship was meant to be only professional, but when he was in a bind, he immediately turned to her, which caused a bit of tension between them. However, Weston was able to convince Lena to accept his request, which led to them having to spend time together in forced proximity. Even though Lena and Weston tried to maintain a professional relationship, their chemistry exploded into them crossing the boundaries that were agreed.
Unfortunately, Lena and Weston’s budding relationship hit an unexpected obstacle when he discovered information about her, that he felt she should have volunteered and led to her walking away. Luckily, not long after Lena left, Weston realised his feelings for her was real, so he did everything possible to convince her to give them a chance, so they could have a future together.
I really enjoyed reading the story with the interesting characters, lots of exciting and steamy moments, but most importantly because it was set in Scotland. Billionaire romance stories are my kryptonite and I can say without a shadow of doubt, that Leslie North didn’t disappoint with this captivating story. Grab a copy of this book now and entertain yourself for a few hours.
I received a free review copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Lena and Weston’s relationship was meant to be only professional, but when he was in a bind, he immediately turned to her, which caused a bit of tension between them. However, Weston was able to convince Lena to accept his request, which led to them having to spend time together in forced proximity. Even though Lena and Weston tried to maintain a professional relationship, their chemistry exploded into them crossing the boundaries that were agreed.
Unfortunately, Lena and Weston’s budding relationship hit an unexpected obstacle when he discovered information about her, that he felt she should have volunteered and led to her walking away. Luckily, not long after Lena left, Weston realised his feelings for her was real, so he did everything possible to convince her to give them a chance, so they could have a future together.
I really enjoyed reading the story with the interesting characters, lots of exciting and steamy moments, but most importantly because it was set in Scotland. Billionaire romance stories are my kryptonite and I can say without a shadow of doubt, that Leslie North didn’t disappoint with this captivating story. Grab a copy of this book now and entertain yourself for a few hours.
I received a free review copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 6, 2026
- Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley -
Do you love Scottish men who are grumpy, but are world class yearners? Do you love strong female characters who say what they mean? What about a Shetland pony that is a chaos demon? Then this book is definitely for you!
This story is so sweet & silly. This is a great marriage of convenience & workplace romance book. The show the obvious push & pull that comes with marrying someone without it being an insta love. It’s a quick read, but you get so much from it. The story has a realness to it when it displays the forms of grief shown. I definitely would recommend to someone who is looking for a good Scottish romance!!
Do you love Scottish men who are grumpy, but are world class yearners? Do you love strong female characters who say what they mean? What about a Shetland pony that is a chaos demon? Then this book is definitely for you!
This story is so sweet & silly. This is a great marriage of convenience & workplace romance book. The show the obvious push & pull that comes with marrying someone without it being an insta love. It’s a quick read, but you get so much from it. The story has a realness to it when it displays the forms of grief shown. I definitely would recommend to someone who is looking for a good Scottish romance!!
June 11, 2026
I thought this book was really good. Lena and Weston have to go through quite a bit of heartache and character growth to achieve their HEA, but the journey is well worth it. I thought the plot and characters were well developed and the book was hard to put down. I was drawn into Lena and Weston’s story from the beginning. I really enjoyed Weston’s growth over the course of the story and I really liked that he had to work through his feelings to figure out where he went wrong and the apology he needed to make to Lena. I liked that the ending wasn’t rushed but instead took time to develop fully. I am looking forward to Locke and Alistair’s stories!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 11, 2026
Lena and Weston’s story was so much fun. A fake date the beyond grumpy boss so he can inherit a beautiful home in Scotland, and as his assistant, you get the job. Their back and forth was so funny. And honestly, Weston was such an immature child at times considering he’s such a guru at running a billion dollar company. I had a blast reading this one. I felt for Lena. But it was great seeing Weston finally get over things and fall for her.
June 11, 2026
Lena works for Weston Kincaid, for 7 years as his personal assistant, which he calls on for at every hour of the day, sometimes. As well as the middle of the night, etc. She has given up numerous vacations because he needed her. Now, with his grandfather’s death, he finds out from the lawyer, that he needs to get married within the month after his grandfather’s death in order to keep to the will’s stipulations for his inheritance of his grand’s estate in Scotland. He really doesn’t want it to go to his cousin, Jasper, who is a piece of work, and would destroy everything there. Weston was happiest when he was there with his grandparents and with his friends who are brothers, Alistair and Locke. (I love them btw). Weston does something crazy and rude- he tells Lena that she is marrying him that day, so that they can go to Scotland. However, she was supposed to take some vacation days to meet her bestie since childhood for her bachelorette party, which had been planned and approved by him for a YEAR. Their conversation turns into an argument that he doesn’t understand why she is upset. I pretty much sat there muttering OMG and oh boy for a half hour. He just keeps putting his foot in his mouth and ticking her off to the point that she walks out for a break. It is hilarious what she does next. His language is both hilarious and hot. I love his dog, Milo. He honestly, should have told her that he thought she was gorgeous somewhere in there. Upon her return, they continue to argue, until she does something that didn’t shock me much and things go to heck after that for a bit.
I was proud of him, when he showed up at her place to apologize. But, he messes that up a bit too. It is hilarious. What happens next is crazy and weirdly romantic. Every time she calls him ‘my liege’ I lost it, almost falling off the bed, from laughing so hard. I cried and laughed a lot during this book. The community is great as well and the fact that Weston wants to take over everything and continue onward with the plans he made with his grandfather was amazing and wonderful. It made me proud of him. Meeting his friends Alistair and Locke and what they were going thru, made me want to hug them too. Holy hotness.
There are two women in this book who could be considered Hurricanes: Narissa, Weston’s ex, who is a piece of work, with what she does to cause trouble throughout the book. The second is Agnes, who is the housekeeper for Weston’s grandfather’s estate. I love her. Agnes is awesome. One of the other hilarious things that happen in the book is Bonnie the pony, who is semi-demonic and an escape artist. She becomes Milo’s partner in crime after a lot of chases. lol. I felt bad for Lena, because Bonnie is a menace to her, especially. OMG.
Setting up the funeral and other things to settle the estate and seeing Weston’s father, uncle and Jasper and how they are, made me want to punch something. All three are pieces of work. They as a group cause problems. After time spent there, being married, Weston and Lena do things together for the estate and the village. The community talks them into being in charge of the Festival like his grandparents had always done, and Lena says yes. Eeep. Things get hilarious and crazy after that. The characters are wonderful in this book. Weston, needs Lena, because she is his balance. When things get romantic, hot and steamy between them, I crowed happily. Then things happen to drive me crazy as a reader. They both give stubbornness new meaning. Ugh. My heart hurts for what happens next between them. The end of the book resolves things and made me cry happy tears. I fully agree with Lena’s assessment of Bonnie, as being a demon pony. As well as Weston’s which is ‘wee menace.’ lol. The ending was just so perfect. I want more about the characters and hope Locke and Alistair get their own books and maybe some of the people of Braeburn.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was proud of him, when he showed up at her place to apologize. But, he messes that up a bit too. It is hilarious. What happens next is crazy and weirdly romantic. Every time she calls him ‘my liege’ I lost it, almost falling off the bed, from laughing so hard. I cried and laughed a lot during this book. The community is great as well and the fact that Weston wants to take over everything and continue onward with the plans he made with his grandfather was amazing and wonderful. It made me proud of him. Meeting his friends Alistair and Locke and what they were going thru, made me want to hug them too. Holy hotness.
There are two women in this book who could be considered Hurricanes: Narissa, Weston’s ex, who is a piece of work, with what she does to cause trouble throughout the book. The second is Agnes, who is the housekeeper for Weston’s grandfather’s estate. I love her. Agnes is awesome. One of the other hilarious things that happen in the book is Bonnie the pony, who is semi-demonic and an escape artist. She becomes Milo’s partner in crime after a lot of chases. lol. I felt bad for Lena, because Bonnie is a menace to her, especially. OMG.
Setting up the funeral and other things to settle the estate and seeing Weston’s father, uncle and Jasper and how they are, made me want to punch something. All three are pieces of work. They as a group cause problems. After time spent there, being married, Weston and Lena do things together for the estate and the village. The community talks them into being in charge of the Festival like his grandparents had always done, and Lena says yes. Eeep. Things get hilarious and crazy after that. The characters are wonderful in this book. Weston, needs Lena, because she is his balance. When things get romantic, hot and steamy between them, I crowed happily. Then things happen to drive me crazy as a reader. They both give stubbornness new meaning. Ugh. My heart hurts for what happens next between them. The end of the book resolves things and made me cry happy tears. I fully agree with Lena’s assessment of Bonnie, as being a demon pony. As well as Weston’s which is ‘wee menace.’ lol. The ending was just so perfect. I want more about the characters and hope Locke and Alistair get their own books and maybe some of the people of Braeburn.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 12, 2026
The Hating Game meets The Proposal, with a dash of The Fine Print—featuring a grumpy billionaire and his assistant faking it in the Scottish Highlands.
Working for Weston Kincaid should come with hazard pay—and maybe a therapist on retainer.
The man is a corporate glacier in a designer suit—arrogant, ice cold, and allergic to anything resembling a work-life balance. As his assistant, I basically run his empire, his schedule, and his caffeine supply. Holidays included.
Then his grandfather’s will drops a nuclear-level twist: Weston must get married ASAP to inherit a jaw-dropping Scottish estate straight out of a Highland fairy tale.
Who does he choose?
Me.
Qualifications: female, breathing, knows his coffee order.
Romance isn't just dead—Weston buried it six feet under and salted the earth.
I quit. Then flee to a café to rage-call my bestie—only to discover (too late) that Weston’s psycho ex is in the booth behind me, listening like she bought tickets.
Within hours, every woman who might’ve considered him refuses to touch him—even for a castle.
Oops. My bad.
Cornered, Weston offers me a deal: so much money my bank app would crash, a chance to chase my dream, and (best of all) time away from the biggest bosshole on Earth. All I have to do is live in the Highlands as his wife for a couple of months.
And I don’t know whether it’s exhaustion or insanity, but I say yes.
Naturally, the universe has jokes, because somewhere between the airport and the castle, my brain decided to develop a crush on Satan in a suit.
This contemporary enemies-to-lovers grumpy/sunshine billionaire boss slow-burn romance is page-turning with exceptional world-building in the Scottish Highlands, Braeburn Cliffs, and characters who are a grumpy bosshole/Satan in a suit, and a sunshine assistant, who are resilient, humorous, captivating, and realistic. Their journey is enthralling with the grump I married, mature, explicit romance that is consumed by steamy, sizzling passion, lust, desire, and spice with all the feelings to leave readers breathless and begging for more, marriage of convenience, Scottish highlands offer that assistant can't refuse, steamy swoon-worthy scenes that will have readers blushing, humorous, lighthearted rom-com, romantic chemistry, emotional intimacy, relationship dynamics, sexual tension, humor, heartfelt emotions/emotional depth, action, adventure, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with the grump I married and a contemporary enemies-to-lovers grumpy/sunshine billionaire boss slow-burn romance that is sure to leave readers transported into a world that is immensely lustful, humorous, intriguing, and unforgettable.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Working for Weston Kincaid should come with hazard pay—and maybe a therapist on retainer.
The man is a corporate glacier in a designer suit—arrogant, ice cold, and allergic to anything resembling a work-life balance. As his assistant, I basically run his empire, his schedule, and his caffeine supply. Holidays included.
Then his grandfather’s will drops a nuclear-level twist: Weston must get married ASAP to inherit a jaw-dropping Scottish estate straight out of a Highland fairy tale.
Who does he choose?
Me.
Qualifications: female, breathing, knows his coffee order.
Romance isn't just dead—Weston buried it six feet under and salted the earth.
I quit. Then flee to a café to rage-call my bestie—only to discover (too late) that Weston’s psycho ex is in the booth behind me, listening like she bought tickets.
Within hours, every woman who might’ve considered him refuses to touch him—even for a castle.
Oops. My bad.
Cornered, Weston offers me a deal: so much money my bank app would crash, a chance to chase my dream, and (best of all) time away from the biggest bosshole on Earth. All I have to do is live in the Highlands as his wife for a couple of months.
And I don’t know whether it’s exhaustion or insanity, but I say yes.
Naturally, the universe has jokes, because somewhere between the airport and the castle, my brain decided to develop a crush on Satan in a suit.
This contemporary enemies-to-lovers grumpy/sunshine billionaire boss slow-burn romance is page-turning with exceptional world-building in the Scottish Highlands, Braeburn Cliffs, and characters who are a grumpy bosshole/Satan in a suit, and a sunshine assistant, who are resilient, humorous, captivating, and realistic. Their journey is enthralling with the grump I married, mature, explicit romance that is consumed by steamy, sizzling passion, lust, desire, and spice with all the feelings to leave readers breathless and begging for more, marriage of convenience, Scottish highlands offer that assistant can't refuse, steamy swoon-worthy scenes that will have readers blushing, humorous, lighthearted rom-com, romantic chemistry, emotional intimacy, relationship dynamics, sexual tension, humor, heartfelt emotions/emotional depth, action, adventure, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with the grump I married and a contemporary enemies-to-lovers grumpy/sunshine billionaire boss slow-burn romance that is sure to leave readers transported into a world that is immensely lustful, humorous, intriguing, and unforgettable.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read
June 19, 2026As a long-time lover of the marriage of convenience trope, I have to admit I was starting to lose faith in it recently. Lately, many releases featuring this plot have felt somewhat formulaic and predictable, lacking the authentic spark that makes the arrangement so addictive to read. However, this book was a spectacular breath of fresh air that completely revitalized my love for this dynamic.
From the very beginning, the emotional transition of the characters felt remarkably grounded and organic. What easily could have remained a superficial workplace arrangement instead developed into a beautiful, slow-burning study of two people desperately trying and failing to maintain their professional boundaries. The contrast between their worldviews creates an intense, slow-burning friction that builds beautifully throughout the narrative. I constantly found myself caught up in that familiar, heart-racing tension as the strict, cold corporate lines began to blur into undeniable, protective affection.
What truly elevates this story is how incredibly human the emotional progression feels. The characters do not just instantly shed their defenses; they fight their growing attachment, stuffing their rising emotions away until the vulnerability becomes too powerful to deny. Watching a fiercely guarded protagonist slowly realize that a chaotic, real life is infinitely better than a perfectly controlled, lonely existence was deeply moving. The pacing is incredibly fluid, making the emotional shifts feel entirely earned rather than rushed for the sake of the plot.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am incredibly grateful to the author and the team for considering me and allowing me the opportunity to read this beautiful masterpiece ahead of its release. It was an absolute pleasure to dive into this story, and I cannot recommend it enough to anyone looking for a well-crafted, emotionally resonant romance that handles forced proximity with true heart and sophistication.
From the very beginning, the emotional transition of the characters felt remarkably grounded and organic. What easily could have remained a superficial workplace arrangement instead developed into a beautiful, slow-burning study of two people desperately trying and failing to maintain their professional boundaries. The contrast between their worldviews creates an intense, slow-burning friction that builds beautifully throughout the narrative. I constantly found myself caught up in that familiar, heart-racing tension as the strict, cold corporate lines began to blur into undeniable, protective affection.
What truly elevates this story is how incredibly human the emotional progression feels. The characters do not just instantly shed their defenses; they fight their growing attachment, stuffing their rising emotions away until the vulnerability becomes too powerful to deny. Watching a fiercely guarded protagonist slowly realize that a chaotic, real life is infinitely better than a perfectly controlled, lonely existence was deeply moving. The pacing is incredibly fluid, making the emotional shifts feel entirely earned rather than rushed for the sake of the plot.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am incredibly grateful to the author and the team for considering me and allowing me the opportunity to read this beautiful masterpiece ahead of its release. It was an absolute pleasure to dive into this story, and I cannot recommend it enough to anyone looking for a well-crafted, emotionally resonant romance that handles forced proximity with true heart and sophistication.
June 18, 2026
In order to inherit his grandfathers estate and keep it out of the hands of his greedy family, billionaire CEO Weston, aka the grump, has to marry within 30 days.
Since he is in a hurry to find a wife he ‘proposes’ to his assistant Lena. After initially declining they make a deal to be married for 6 months so Weston can keep his grandfathers estate safe and Lena will get her dream job.
But off course things don’t stay platonic when they are around each other all the time in a non-professional way.
I am a fan of the grumpy and sunshine trope and forced proximity and in this story it worked perfectly.
Weston wasn’t as grumpy as I expected, he was just dealing with a lot but was secretly a total sweetheart.
Lena was his perfect match and I loved how she wasn’t impressed by his bossiness and saw the real Weston.
But this story wasn’t just about love, it was also about family and choosing or creating your own.
The Scottish details and phrases were a nice touch that gave the story something extra.
TRIGGER WARNING
One note of criticism is the lack of trigger warning. because despite it being a sweet romance it also deals with some heavier topics like not being able to have children and grief. I wasn’t triggered but can imagine people being unpleasantly surprised, especially since the ability to have children is a heavy subject, so beware.
Since he is in a hurry to find a wife he ‘proposes’ to his assistant Lena. After initially declining they make a deal to be married for 6 months so Weston can keep his grandfathers estate safe and Lena will get her dream job.
But off course things don’t stay platonic when they are around each other all the time in a non-professional way.
I am a fan of the grumpy and sunshine trope and forced proximity and in this story it worked perfectly.
Weston wasn’t as grumpy as I expected, he was just dealing with a lot but was secretly a total sweetheart.
Lena was his perfect match and I loved how she wasn’t impressed by his bossiness and saw the real Weston.
But this story wasn’t just about love, it was also about family and choosing or creating your own.
The Scottish details and phrases were a nice touch that gave the story something extra.
TRIGGER WARNING
One note of criticism is the lack of trigger warning. because despite it being a sweet romance it also deals with some heavier topics like not being able to have children and grief. I wasn’t triggered but can imagine people being unpleasantly surprised, especially since the ability to have children is a heavy subject, so beware.
June 11, 2026
Seven years of working for her grumpy bosshole, doing everything he requires, but there's a line and Weston just crossed it. His grandfather's will stipulates that he be married within 30 days and Lena's been ordered to become his wife like it's just another job duty to accomplish. That's a hard no! But then he gives her an offer she can't refuse, so it's of to the Scottish Highlands to save the estate. Seven years, she avoided looking at Weston as anything but a boss, but things change when she's living with the man. Can she survive these six months without losing her heart?
Love the setting, love the estate, the side characters, the little town, Bonnie and Milo, and especially the main characters together! This was just the kind of angsty yet humorous rom-com I needed today. This author always gives a good story, relatable characters and a fun spicy time.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
Love the setting, love the estate, the side characters, the little town, Bonnie and Milo, and especially the main characters together! This was just the kind of angsty yet humorous rom-com I needed today. This author always gives a good story, relatable characters and a fun spicy time.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
June 12, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for providing access to an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
The Grump I Married was a cute, quick, and genuinely funny read. With a grumpy x sunshine dynamic, a boss x secretary romance, and a fake marriage trope, it was an easy book to breeze through. The humor was definitely the highlight for me, and it kept me entertained from start to finish. While I enjoyed it, the story felt a little predictable at times, and I wasn’t as emotionally invested in the romance as I had hoped. Overall, a fun and lighthearted read that I enjoyed, but not one that will stay with me for long.
The Grump I Married was a cute, quick, and genuinely funny read. With a grumpy x sunshine dynamic, a boss x secretary romance, and a fake marriage trope, it was an easy book to breeze through. The humor was definitely the highlight for me, and it kept me entertained from start to finish. While I enjoyed it, the story felt a little predictable at times, and I wasn’t as emotionally invested in the romance as I had hoped. Overall, a fun and lighthearted read that I enjoyed, but not one that will stay with me for long.
Did Not Finish
June 16, 2026Thank you Netgalley for the ARC
Unfortunately I could not finish this book
Wasnt sure if it was me or the writing style
I wasnt engaged and found it was lacking something.
Unfortunately I could not finish this book
Wasnt sure if it was me or the writing style
I wasnt engaged and found it was lacking something.
June 10, 2026
The moment I saw the words Scottish estate, this book shot straight to the top of my TBR list. I have an inexplicable love affair with all things Scottish despite the fact that I've never actually been there. Maybe I'm a bit like Lena, the heroine, and I've watched one too many Highlander movies. Or maybe it's because nothing gets the blood pumping quite like seeing Gerard Butler in a kilt (pity Weston never donned one, except on the cover). Give me an "aye" or an "I've got you, lass," and I'm basically a puddle on the floor. That said, Weston was not exactly the rugged Highland dreamboat of my fantasies. He's arrogant, self-centered, and fully expects Lena, his long-suffering personal assistant, to drop everything the second he snaps his fingers. Honestly, if anyone's keeping score, Lena has earned her angel wings for putting up with him for as long as she has. But even saints have their limits. When Weston learns he has to marry in order to inherit his grandfather's estate, he assumes Lena will simply step into the role of convenient bride. Lena's response? That’s a hard no. Unfortunately, after accidentally landing Weston in a rather unfortunate poisoned-goods situation, and Weston offers her the chance to chase her dreams in exchange for a few months in the Scottish Highlands, Lena reluctantly agrees. And what a trade-off that turns out to be. Upon arrival, Lena discovers she's not moving into some charming country manor, she's moving into a frigging castle. Turrets. Towers. The whole fairy-tale package. From there, the story introduces a cast of characters I couldn't help but adore. There's Agnes, whose love language is feeding everyone within a five-mile radius. Callum, the gruff groundskeeper who somehow becomes the voice of reason whenever Weston makes a mess of things. Bonnie, the Shetland pony who is absolutely convinced she's a dog and steals every scene she’s in. And an entire village eager to see whether Weston can live up to the legacy his grandfather left behind. But the real magic lies in watching Weston slowly pull the stick out of his ass and become a genuinely better person. As he grapples with his grandfather's legacy and the grief of losing the man who meant more to him than his own father, he begins to see Lena differently. He notices her kindness as she effortlessly wins over half the town. He realizes how much she grounds him. And before long, he starts to suspect that what exists between them might be something far more meaningful than a business deal. However, just when you're finally warming to him, Weston does what Weston does best: he ruins everything. I haven't used the word rollercoaster in a review for a while, but that's exactly what this man was. One minute I was cheering for him; the next I wanted to launch him into a loch. I was furious when he turned on Lena after she revealed her secret. She had just shared her deepest trauma, and his reaction was nothing short of awful. The audacity! Thankfully, he eventually realizes the magnitude of his mistake, and I appreciated that he spent time reflecting on his actions before attempting to make amends. That said, my biggest complaint with Leslie's books remains the same: there is never quite enough groveling for my taste. Give me tears. Give me suffering. Give me a man crawling over broken glass to earn the FMC’s forgiveness. Weston’s is…adequate. Still, all's well that ends well. I closed the book with a smile on my face, and despite my occasional frustrations, I know I'll be back for more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 21, 2026
I need you to understand that this man finds out he has thirty days to get married in order to inherit his grandfather's Scottish estate and immediately looks at his assistant of seven years and basically says, "Great, problem solved."
Not because they're dating. Not because they're secretly in love. Not because they've been carrying a torch for each other. No. Because she knows his schedule. Honestly, it was one of the most aggressively unromantic proposals I've ever witnessed and I kind of respected the commitment to the bit.
Lena, meanwhile, has spent seven years managing this man's life, his calendar, his travel, his emergencies, his moods, and probably the exact temperature of his coffee. She is essentially the operating system keeping Weston Kincaid functional, and watching her finally reach the point where she's like, "Actually, what if I simply walked into the ocean?" was incredibly relatable.
The funny thing is that once they get to Scotland, Weston starts accidentally becoming a person. Suddenly he's not Corporate Glacier anymore. He's grieving his grandfather. He's dealing with family baggage. He's reconnecting with a place he genuinely loves. And Lena starts seeing pieces of him that apparently existed this whole time but were buried beneath several layers of billionaire nonsense.
The Scottish setting absolutely carried me through parts of this book. Castles. Tiny village drama. Festivals. Found family. A collection of side characters who seem deeply invested in everybody else's business. At one point I became emotionally attached to the town itself. Everybody was constantly feeding somebody, offering unsolicited advice, or meddling with the confidence of people who have never once considered minding their own business.
And then there's Bonnie. Nobody adequately prepared me for Bonnie. That tiny pony was operating on pure chaos and criminal intent. Every time she appeared I got excited because there was a solid chance somebody's day was about to get significantly worse.
My biggest issue is still Weston. Not because I hated him. Because I actually started liking him against my better judgment. The problem is that every time I felt myself getting fully onboard, he'd say something so spectacularly dumb that I'd have to start over. This man can apparently run a billion-dollar company but occasionally handles emotional conversations like someone trying to assemble IKEA furniture without the instructions.
Which made parts of the romance harder for me to fully buy into. I liked Lena far more consistently. She's funny, capable, patient, and frankly deserved a bonus for surviving the first third of this book. The romance works best when Weston stops trying to control every situation and starts acting like a human being instead of a particularly handsome HR violation.
What ultimately saved this for me was that it never stopped being fun. Even when the romance wasn't fully clicking, I was having a good time. The castle was charming. The side characters were delightful. The animals were stealing scenes. Scotland was doing Scotland things.
By the end, I landed around 3 stars. Not because I disliked it, but because I kept wanting either more chemistry or more groveling. Ideally both. But I still had fun, and I'll absolutely be back for the next Braeburn Cliffs book because this town clearly has more matchmaking plans than the residents are aware of.
Huge thanks to Relay Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. I came for the fake marriage, stayed for the Scottish castle, and left convinced that Bonnie the pony was the most powerful character in the entire book.
Not because they're dating. Not because they're secretly in love. Not because they've been carrying a torch for each other. No. Because she knows his schedule. Honestly, it was one of the most aggressively unromantic proposals I've ever witnessed and I kind of respected the commitment to the bit.
Lena, meanwhile, has spent seven years managing this man's life, his calendar, his travel, his emergencies, his moods, and probably the exact temperature of his coffee. She is essentially the operating system keeping Weston Kincaid functional, and watching her finally reach the point where she's like, "Actually, what if I simply walked into the ocean?" was incredibly relatable.
The funny thing is that once they get to Scotland, Weston starts accidentally becoming a person. Suddenly he's not Corporate Glacier anymore. He's grieving his grandfather. He's dealing with family baggage. He's reconnecting with a place he genuinely loves. And Lena starts seeing pieces of him that apparently existed this whole time but were buried beneath several layers of billionaire nonsense.
The Scottish setting absolutely carried me through parts of this book. Castles. Tiny village drama. Festivals. Found family. A collection of side characters who seem deeply invested in everybody else's business. At one point I became emotionally attached to the town itself. Everybody was constantly feeding somebody, offering unsolicited advice, or meddling with the confidence of people who have never once considered minding their own business.
And then there's Bonnie. Nobody adequately prepared me for Bonnie. That tiny pony was operating on pure chaos and criminal intent. Every time she appeared I got excited because there was a solid chance somebody's day was about to get significantly worse.
My biggest issue is still Weston. Not because I hated him. Because I actually started liking him against my better judgment. The problem is that every time I felt myself getting fully onboard, he'd say something so spectacularly dumb that I'd have to start over. This man can apparently run a billion-dollar company but occasionally handles emotional conversations like someone trying to assemble IKEA furniture without the instructions.
Which made parts of the romance harder for me to fully buy into. I liked Lena far more consistently. She's funny, capable, patient, and frankly deserved a bonus for surviving the first third of this book. The romance works best when Weston stops trying to control every situation and starts acting like a human being instead of a particularly handsome HR violation.
What ultimately saved this for me was that it never stopped being fun. Even when the romance wasn't fully clicking, I was having a good time. The castle was charming. The side characters were delightful. The animals were stealing scenes. Scotland was doing Scotland things.
By the end, I landed around 3 stars. Not because I disliked it, but because I kept wanting either more chemistry or more groveling. Ideally both. But I still had fun, and I'll absolutely be back for the next Braeburn Cliffs book because this town clearly has more matchmaking plans than the residents are aware of.
Huge thanks to Relay Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. I came for the fake marriage, stayed for the Scottish castle, and left convinced that Bonnie the pony was the most powerful character in the entire book.
June 12, 2026
His Liege and the pretend wife... Billionaire grump former tech guru, arrogant owner of Kincade Energy, Weston Kincaid needs a wife to receive his inheritance from his grandfather who just passed suddenly. Desperation calls for desperate measures, but the worst thing you can do is order someone to do your bidding. I loved that Weston is not the type to give up and once he sets his sights on something he goes all in, his honesty and perseverance as well as his words take him far. But I love how hard and deeply he loves his Grandparents. Lena has worked for Weston for seven long years, being at his beck-in call as his personal assistant, that is until her boss demands the most atrocious order possible in the most unorthodox way as if it were his right to demand it. My favorite parts of this story that made it all real were when Weston and Lena tackled things together, especially when Bonnie was involved. Those special moments when they were against the world felt as if they could accomplish anything together, like the festival and defending his grandpa’s legacy. My favorite moment is after letter interview when Weston bares all, when he wears his vulnerability on his sleeve and shows Lena who he really is and wants to be. What I loved most about Lena was her strength, kindness, sweetness and stride to help others without complaining, especially with Weston and how fearless she is when tackling new things. I loved their intimate sweet moments, the stories of Adventure Camp, of Lachbrae, and town folk but my favorites are with milo, bonnie and their friends, Alistair, Locke and Tess. OH, I also loved when Callum and Weston delivered coo, that was awesome. Bonnie was hilarious, a bit freaky with her antics but so funny. I loved Milos disposition reminding me of my own Luna and Sundae. Callum standoffish ways, as well as his wisdom made story more real and touched my heart reminding me of my dad. Agnes is such a sweet carrying person to all, so motherly and bossy, just as my grandma was. I loved how Tess was by Lena side no matter what, her loyalty, friendship really struck a chord, because nowadays not many friends stick by your side no matter what. Tess is a true loyal friend we all need and should have, but it is rare to find. My heart went out for Alistair and Kenna; I hope to read about their story one day. Locke is such a fun guy, but such a great friend. Weston and Lena story was well written; I was engrossed from the moment Weston shockingly demands his order to Lena as if it was her duty to comply to whatever boss asked... what! no freaking way. I stood by Lena side most of way since that moment. My heart goes out to Lena and her issues, it's hard to live with such tragedy and I understood her hesitancy completely. I loved the pace of story; it kept me wanting more as story unveiled itself. I loved how both Weston and Lena reflected and were able to overcome as well as grow in this story. Their story had me sad at times especially Lena story as well as Westons loss. I was angry a few times and wanted to knock some sense into Weston, but happy most of the time, as their story progressed, I felt happy excited about their future. I laughed so hard at Bonnies antics and was in awe at Aisling, the way she so easily accepted all new things, she is so resilient and will do amazing things. I do have to say I love stories with highlanders and Castles; I am sorry we didn't get Lena's reaction to Weston in a kilt, that would have been magical. I voluntarily reviewed this ARC I received.
June 10, 2026
This was the first novel I’ve read with a marriage of convenience. I wasn’t sure if it was a trope for me … It also stems from a workplace romance and again, I had avoided those until now, thinking that it wasn’t my cup of tea… However, The Grump I Married pleasantly surprised me.
Lena and Weston work together. Lena has been Weston’s assistant for 7 years. She knows everything about him, is quick to help and puts up with his grumpy ways. Weston Kincaid is a billionaire Scotsman who suddenly needs Lena more than ever. When his grandfather passes and, to avoid his estate back in Scotland falling into the hands of his disreputable cousin, the will states that Weston must marry in 30 days, his mind automatically goes to Lena. After (rightfully) putting up a fight when Weston assumes she will just marry him, they come to an agreement - 6 months, then they can divorce and he can pay for all her schooling and a guaranteed promotion for the job she’s always wanted at the end. What they didn’t count on, was falling in love.
The dynamic between them from start to finish is comfortable, understanding and in the end, full of love. It is somewhat assumed the love has always been there, but it did feel more like this grew rather than always bubbled beneath the surface. Lena is so capable and great at her job, that Weston suddenly sees her for more than his assistant and realises he’s always loved her. The dual pov helps us understand their feelings, even from early on, with them both separately talking of their lingering attraction to one another. When they get to Scotland, this changes and the heat ramps up; while not a slow burn, it’s a mid burn and when they fall into the shower together and it gets more than steamy, the humble and sexy Weston comes out from under the billionaire veil. The sexy scenes are in depth and hot, making you blush more and more.
Other characters are fun, warm and create a sense of Scottish community. Cute animals come into play, with Weston’s dog Milo already sensing a mum in Lena, Bonnie the crazy miniature pony running amuck and, of course, a highland coo called Arran who comes into the world with the help of Weston. The characters and the life found in Scotland breaks down Weston’s exterior, for you to realise he is a loveable, wonderful man, and Lena’s, to let her become vulnerable. Don’t mind me, just adding another unobtainable book husband to the list… And who KNEW a man calling someone his wife would be so hot?
Leslie North has created a wonderful world, evoking a true Scottish community and a hot, heavy and emotionally charged romance, where wee beastie ponies rule the roost.
Lena and Weston work together. Lena has been Weston’s assistant for 7 years. She knows everything about him, is quick to help and puts up with his grumpy ways. Weston Kincaid is a billionaire Scotsman who suddenly needs Lena more than ever. When his grandfather passes and, to avoid his estate back in Scotland falling into the hands of his disreputable cousin, the will states that Weston must marry in 30 days, his mind automatically goes to Lena. After (rightfully) putting up a fight when Weston assumes she will just marry him, they come to an agreement - 6 months, then they can divorce and he can pay for all her schooling and a guaranteed promotion for the job she’s always wanted at the end. What they didn’t count on, was falling in love.
The dynamic between them from start to finish is comfortable, understanding and in the end, full of love. It is somewhat assumed the love has always been there, but it did feel more like this grew rather than always bubbled beneath the surface. Lena is so capable and great at her job, that Weston suddenly sees her for more than his assistant and realises he’s always loved her. The dual pov helps us understand their feelings, even from early on, with them both separately talking of their lingering attraction to one another. When they get to Scotland, this changes and the heat ramps up; while not a slow burn, it’s a mid burn and when they fall into the shower together and it gets more than steamy, the humble and sexy Weston comes out from under the billionaire veil. The sexy scenes are in depth and hot, making you blush more and more.
Other characters are fun, warm and create a sense of Scottish community. Cute animals come into play, with Weston’s dog Milo already sensing a mum in Lena, Bonnie the crazy miniature pony running amuck and, of course, a highland coo called Arran who comes into the world with the help of Weston. The characters and the life found in Scotland breaks down Weston’s exterior, for you to realise he is a loveable, wonderful man, and Lena’s, to let her become vulnerable. Don’t mind me, just adding another unobtainable book husband to the list… And who KNEW a man calling someone his wife would be so hot?
Leslie North has created a wonderful world, evoking a true Scottish community and a hot, heavy and emotionally charged romance, where wee beastie ponies rule the roost.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If my boss ever looked at me and said, "I need you to marry me so I can inherit a castle," I would probably have my resignation letter ready before he could finish the sentence. 😂 Thankfully, Lena didn't listen to the voice in my head because The Grump I Married was such a fun, addictive read filled with banter, tension, fake-marriage chaos, and plenty of Scottish charm.
Weston and Lena were a fantastic match. Weston is the definition of a grumpy billionaire boss—serious, demanding, emotionally closed off, and completely focused on work. Lena may technically be his assistant, but she keeps his entire life running smoothly and isn't afraid to challenge him when he's being unreasonable. One of the things I loved most about Lena was that she knew her worth. When she felt disrespected, she stood up for herself instead of simply accepting it, which made her easy to root for from the very beginning.
The fake marriage setup was so much fun. What starts as a business arrangement to satisfy Weston's grandfather's will slowly turns into something much more as they spend time together in the Scottish Highlands. Their chemistry was undeniable, and I loved watching Lena break through Weston's carefully built walls. Beneath all the grumpiness was a man who loved deeply, valued loyalty, and would do anything for the people he cared about once they earned a place in his circle. Watching him realize what—and who—had been right in front of him all along was incredibly satisfying.
The Scottish setting added so much charm to the story, and the close-knit community, family drama, social media chaos, and hilarious banter kept me entertained throughout. And of course, I can't write this review without mentioning Bonnie the Shetland pony, who absolutely stole every scene she appeared in. 🐴❤️
Overall, The Grump I Married was a sweet, funny, and highly entertaining romance featuring a grumpy billionaire, a strong heroine, a marriage of convenience, forced proximity, and plenty of tension. If you love fake relationships, boss-assistant romances, Scottish castles, and heroes who slowly fall head over heels, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
Weston and Lena were a fantastic match. Weston is the definition of a grumpy billionaire boss—serious, demanding, emotionally closed off, and completely focused on work. Lena may technically be his assistant, but she keeps his entire life running smoothly and isn't afraid to challenge him when he's being unreasonable. One of the things I loved most about Lena was that she knew her worth. When she felt disrespected, she stood up for herself instead of simply accepting it, which made her easy to root for from the very beginning.
The fake marriage setup was so much fun. What starts as a business arrangement to satisfy Weston's grandfather's will slowly turns into something much more as they spend time together in the Scottish Highlands. Their chemistry was undeniable, and I loved watching Lena break through Weston's carefully built walls. Beneath all the grumpiness was a man who loved deeply, valued loyalty, and would do anything for the people he cared about once they earned a place in his circle. Watching him realize what—and who—had been right in front of him all along was incredibly satisfying.
The Scottish setting added so much charm to the story, and the close-knit community, family drama, social media chaos, and hilarious banter kept me entertained throughout. And of course, I can't write this review without mentioning Bonnie the Shetland pony, who absolutely stole every scene she appeared in. 🐴❤️
Overall, The Grump I Married was a sweet, funny, and highly entertaining romance featuring a grumpy billionaire, a strong heroine, a marriage of convenience, forced proximity, and plenty of tension. If you love fake relationships, boss-assistant romances, Scottish castles, and heroes who slowly fall head over heels, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
June 11, 2026
This was everything I want in a fake marriage romance and more. A grumpy billionaire, a capable assistant, a Scottish castle, forced proximity, and years of unresolved tension? I was invested from the very first chapter.
Lena and Weston have worked together for years, which gave their relationship a depth that many workplace romances lack. Lena knows Weston better than almost anyone, even if she'd never admit it, and watching their professional relationship slowly shift into something more was incredibly satisfying.
Weston is definitely the classic grumpy hero. He's demanding, emotionally guarded, and often terrible at communicating his feelings. Yet beneath all of that, it's obvious how much he relies on Lena. Once they arrive in Scotland and are forced to spend even more time together, the cracks in his icy exterior start to show, and that's when he really won me over.
The Scottish Highlands added so much charm to the story. Between the estate, the small-town atmosphere, the local festival, the quirky townspeople, and even the troublesome pony, the setting felt like a character in its own right. It created the perfect backdrop for a romance filled with tension, humor, and emotional growth.
I also appreciated that the story wasn't afraid to tackle heavier topics. Lena's struggles added emotional depth to the romance and made her journey feel even more meaningful. The relationship challenges felt realistic, and both characters had to confront personal issues before they could truly move forward together.
The chemistry between Lena and Weston was fantastic from start to finish. The banter, the frustration, the attraction, and the vulnerability all came together beautifully. Their journey from boss and assistant to fake spouses to something much more genuine felt natural and rewarding.
If you love grumpy/sunshine vibes, fake marriage, workplace romance, forced proximity, Scottish settings, and plenty of heartfelt moments, this book deserves a spot at the top of your TBR. I couldn't put it down and was smiling by the time I reached the final page.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Lena and Weston have worked together for years, which gave their relationship a depth that many workplace romances lack. Lena knows Weston better than almost anyone, even if she'd never admit it, and watching their professional relationship slowly shift into something more was incredibly satisfying.
Weston is definitely the classic grumpy hero. He's demanding, emotionally guarded, and often terrible at communicating his feelings. Yet beneath all of that, it's obvious how much he relies on Lena. Once they arrive in Scotland and are forced to spend even more time together, the cracks in his icy exterior start to show, and that's when he really won me over.
The Scottish Highlands added so much charm to the story. Between the estate, the small-town atmosphere, the local festival, the quirky townspeople, and even the troublesome pony, the setting felt like a character in its own right. It created the perfect backdrop for a romance filled with tension, humor, and emotional growth.
I also appreciated that the story wasn't afraid to tackle heavier topics. Lena's struggles added emotional depth to the romance and made her journey feel even more meaningful. The relationship challenges felt realistic, and both characters had to confront personal issues before they could truly move forward together.
The chemistry between Lena and Weston was fantastic from start to finish. The banter, the frustration, the attraction, and the vulnerability all came together beautifully. Their journey from boss and assistant to fake spouses to something much more genuine felt natural and rewarding.
If you love grumpy/sunshine vibes, fake marriage, workplace romance, forced proximity, Scottish settings, and plenty of heartfelt moments, this book deserves a spot at the top of your TBR. I couldn't put it down and was smiling by the time I reached the final page.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 11, 2026
This was another fabulous read by Leslie North! After seven years of being Weston Kincaid’s assistant, Lena knows exactly how impossible the man can be. So when his grandfather’s will requires him to get married in order to inherit his beloved Scottish estate, the last thing she expects is for Weston to decide she’s the solution. One fake marriage, one Scottish castle, and one tiny demon pony later, things become a whole lot more complicated than either of them planned.
I spent the first part of the story laughing at Weston while also wanting to shake him. The man can run a billion-dollar company but somehow cannot communicate his feelings to save his life. Every time he opened his mouth, he somehow made things worse, and I can definitely relate to that. I loved that Lena and Weston already had years of history together. They knew each other's habits, routines, and all the little details that come from being part of someone's everyday life. When they stop seeing each other as boss and assistant and start seeing the person underneath, it was really sweet. This was also a surprisingly emotional story about grief, trust, and vulnerability. Seeing how these two slowly let each other in while fighting their own fears was lovely. There were definitely times where they drove me crazy, but I was cheering them on the entire time.
The Scotland setting was beautiful. Between the castle, the small-town, the festival planning, the Highland cattle, and Bonnie the absolute menace of a pony, Lochbrae felt like a place I wanted to visit. And Weston in Scotland was a completely different man. I always eat up the grumpy billionaire honoring his grandfather’s legacy and losing his mind over his woman. I really wish there was no third-act break-up, but sometimes a couple just needs a reprise to see things a bit more clearly. I could always do with more groveling, but the end result was exactly what Weston and Lena needed.
Like all of Leslie North's books, this one made me laugh and made me cry while Lena and Weston were figuring it out. No one writes boss romances like this author, and if she writes it, I'm reading it! Also, Bonnie deserves her own book PLEASE!
I spent the first part of the story laughing at Weston while also wanting to shake him. The man can run a billion-dollar company but somehow cannot communicate his feelings to save his life. Every time he opened his mouth, he somehow made things worse, and I can definitely relate to that. I loved that Lena and Weston already had years of history together. They knew each other's habits, routines, and all the little details that come from being part of someone's everyday life. When they stop seeing each other as boss and assistant and start seeing the person underneath, it was really sweet. This was also a surprisingly emotional story about grief, trust, and vulnerability. Seeing how these two slowly let each other in while fighting their own fears was lovely. There were definitely times where they drove me crazy, but I was cheering them on the entire time.
The Scotland setting was beautiful. Between the castle, the small-town, the festival planning, the Highland cattle, and Bonnie the absolute menace of a pony, Lochbrae felt like a place I wanted to visit. And Weston in Scotland was a completely different man. I always eat up the grumpy billionaire honoring his grandfather’s legacy and losing his mind over his woman. I really wish there was no third-act break-up, but sometimes a couple just needs a reprise to see things a bit more clearly. I could always do with more groveling, but the end result was exactly what Weston and Lena needed.
Like all of Leslie North's books, this one made me laugh and made me cry while Lena and Weston were figuring it out. No one writes boss romances like this author, and if she writes it, I'm reading it! Also, Bonnie deserves her own book PLEASE!
Review of advance copy
I received an advance copy via BookSirens in exchange for my honest review.
If my boss ever looked at me and said, "Hey, I need you to legally bind yourself to me," I’d have my desk packed and my resignation letter submitted before he could even finish the sentence. Seriously, during the first few chapters of The Grump I Married, my brain was just shouting a steady stream of "WHO DOES THIS GUY THINK HE IS?!" and "RUN, GIRL, RUN!"
But thank goodness Lena didn't listen to me, because this fake-engagement-to-save-the-family-estate-from-a-dirtbag-cousin story is an absolute delight.
The Good, the Bad, and the Content Creator:
✨The Grump & The Sunshine: Weston is the ultimate emotionally closed-off, brooding CEO, and Lena is the indispensable assistant who holds his entire life together. Their dynamic is top-tier.
✨The Ex-Fiancée: Someone please revoke this woman’s data plan. Look, I get being upset that your engagement fell through, but damn, girl. Does she do anything else in between all those bitter social media posts? Take a breath. Take a walk. Log off!
✨The Absolute Star of the Show: Bonnie the Shetland pony. Go off, queen! Do not let any fence hold you back from living your best life. Honestly, Bonnie stole my heart.
Fake Relationship, Real Heat 🌶️
Has a fake relationship in the history of romance novels ever ended when it was supposed to? Has anyone ever successfully kept it strictly professional? Absolutely not, and Weston and Lena do not disappoint. Things get awfully steamy, awfully fast, and I was entirely here for it.
👩⚖️The Verdict:
Behind all the hilarious chaos, the online drama, and the intrusive pony, this is actually a heartbreakingly sweet read. It’s about two people who are absolutely perfect for each other, figuring out how to overcome their own fears and insecurities to finally see what's been right in front of them the whole time.
If you love small-town charm, family legacies, laugh-out-loud moments, and a romance that will melt even the grumpiest heart, put this one on your TBR!
If my boss ever looked at me and said, "Hey, I need you to legally bind yourself to me," I’d have my desk packed and my resignation letter submitted before he could even finish the sentence. Seriously, during the first few chapters of The Grump I Married, my brain was just shouting a steady stream of "WHO DOES THIS GUY THINK HE IS?!" and "RUN, GIRL, RUN!"
But thank goodness Lena didn't listen to me, because this fake-engagement-to-save-the-family-estate-from-a-dirtbag-cousin story is an absolute delight.
The Good, the Bad, and the Content Creator:
✨The Grump & The Sunshine: Weston is the ultimate emotionally closed-off, brooding CEO, and Lena is the indispensable assistant who holds his entire life together. Their dynamic is top-tier.
✨The Ex-Fiancée: Someone please revoke this woman’s data plan. Look, I get being upset that your engagement fell through, but damn, girl. Does she do anything else in between all those bitter social media posts? Take a breath. Take a walk. Log off!
✨The Absolute Star of the Show: Bonnie the Shetland pony. Go off, queen! Do not let any fence hold you back from living your best life. Honestly, Bonnie stole my heart.
Fake Relationship, Real Heat 🌶️
Has a fake relationship in the history of romance novels ever ended when it was supposed to? Has anyone ever successfully kept it strictly professional? Absolutely not, and Weston and Lena do not disappoint. Things get awfully steamy, awfully fast, and I was entirely here for it.
👩⚖️The Verdict:
Behind all the hilarious chaos, the online drama, and the intrusive pony, this is actually a heartbreakingly sweet read. It’s about two people who are absolutely perfect for each other, figuring out how to overcome their own fears and insecurities to finally see what's been right in front of them the whole time.
If you love small-town charm, family legacies, laugh-out-loud moments, and a romance that will melt even the grumpiest heart, put this one on your TBR!
June 12, 2026
***ARC received through NetGalley***
"Brooding Scottish billionaire say what?"
Wealth, success, and a calendar booked six months in advance—energy development tycoon Weston Kincaid has everything a man could want. Well, almost everything. According to his late grandfather's will, Weston has just thirty days to find a wife or he loses inheritance of Lochbrae Castle, the beloved Scottish estate filled with his favorite childhood memories. If that weren't bad enough, the estate—and his grandfather's dream of bringing sustainable wind energy to the Highlands—will fall into the hands of Weston's snake of a cousin, Jasper.
Enter Lena Hart: Weston's punctual, whip-smart, utterly unflappable assistant. She's organized, practical, trustworthy, and annoyingly good at keeping his life from unraveling. She's also, conveniently, very attractive and, perhaps inconveniently, the most obvious solution to his very bride-shaped problem.
"My frustration flared like a gasoline-fed flame. 'I haven't dismissed you for the day.'
Her eyes flashed, something dangerous in their depths."
Cute, fun, romantic, and spicy—everything I love in a good romance novel. The author wastes no time throwing readers into the heart of the story, and the sparks between Weston and Lena had me invested immediately. While Weston's grief over his grandfather's passing was evident from the outset, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Lena was carrying her own emotional burdens. The exploration of grief gave the story added depth without weighing it down, and I thought the author struck a wonderful balance between these more poignant moments and the novel's playful, romantic charm.
I deducted one star for predictability. About one-third of the way through, I knew future conflicts, plot points, and generally, just how this novel would conclude.
Overall, this book served as a great summer read, perfect for the backyard, beach, or boat. I would definitely recommend. Four stars.
"Brooding Scottish billionaire say what?"
Wealth, success, and a calendar booked six months in advance—energy development tycoon Weston Kincaid has everything a man could want. Well, almost everything. According to his late grandfather's will, Weston has just thirty days to find a wife or he loses inheritance of Lochbrae Castle, the beloved Scottish estate filled with his favorite childhood memories. If that weren't bad enough, the estate—and his grandfather's dream of bringing sustainable wind energy to the Highlands—will fall into the hands of Weston's snake of a cousin, Jasper.
Enter Lena Hart: Weston's punctual, whip-smart, utterly unflappable assistant. She's organized, practical, trustworthy, and annoyingly good at keeping his life from unraveling. She's also, conveniently, very attractive and, perhaps inconveniently, the most obvious solution to his very bride-shaped problem.
"My frustration flared like a gasoline-fed flame. 'I haven't dismissed you for the day.'
Her eyes flashed, something dangerous in their depths."
Cute, fun, romantic, and spicy—everything I love in a good romance novel. The author wastes no time throwing readers into the heart of the story, and the sparks between Weston and Lena had me invested immediately. While Weston's grief over his grandfather's passing was evident from the outset, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Lena was carrying her own emotional burdens. The exploration of grief gave the story added depth without weighing it down, and I thought the author struck a wonderful balance between these more poignant moments and the novel's playful, romantic charm.
I deducted one star for predictability. About one-third of the way through, I knew future conflicts, plot points, and generally, just how this novel would conclude.
Overall, this book served as a great summer read, perfect for the backyard, beach, or boat. I would definitely recommend. Four stars.
Review of advance copy
4.5⭐
2🌶️
Bringing all the banter, tension and spice, there's just something about Leslie's books you don't want to miss out on! This story was a great start to the new series, set in the Scottish Highlands - featuring grumpy billionaire boss, Weston, and his PA, Lena.
Weston discovers his beloved late grandfather has left the family estate in his name, with a stipulation that he must marry within thirty days. If not, he forfeits and everything will go to his 'shady' cousin, Jasper. Weston must find a bride quick - but who else would fit the bill last minute besides his long term PA, Lena?
Lena thinks Weston is crazy for proposing such an absurd idea, but when Weston presents a deal that will see her able to finally pursue her career, she can't possibly turn him down, so she finally agrees to become his wife.
In what was supposed to be a strict business arrangement between them, it soon becomes something so much more. Lena sees her boss in a different light, and wants to get to know him more. Weston becomes aware of how much he's actually missed Braeburn and the close knit community, but having Lena by his side has made him realise - what if this was his granddad's plan all along? Will he appreciate what is right in front of him before it's too late?
Seriously, I do love an FMC who challenges the MMC when he's ultra broody and grumpy, because Lena and Weston had this in spades! Weston is the typical billionaire boss who is grumpy to everyone, but once you're in his circle of trust, he would do anything for you. Lena certainly scaled them high walls of his and changed his outlook on love but seriously, I couldn't believe how blind this man could also be! 🫠 Lena also didn't come without her own story, and I seriously felt for her. She had her own struggles to work through and I'm glad Weston could (finally!!!) be that person for her, loving her no matter what.
Overall, this story was a highly addictive and funny read (Bonnie was my fave!) and I seriously can't wait for more in the series!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
2🌶️
Bringing all the banter, tension and spice, there's just something about Leslie's books you don't want to miss out on! This story was a great start to the new series, set in the Scottish Highlands - featuring grumpy billionaire boss, Weston, and his PA, Lena.
Weston discovers his beloved late grandfather has left the family estate in his name, with a stipulation that he must marry within thirty days. If not, he forfeits and everything will go to his 'shady' cousin, Jasper. Weston must find a bride quick - but who else would fit the bill last minute besides his long term PA, Lena?
Lena thinks Weston is crazy for proposing such an absurd idea, but when Weston presents a deal that will see her able to finally pursue her career, she can't possibly turn him down, so she finally agrees to become his wife.
In what was supposed to be a strict business arrangement between them, it soon becomes something so much more. Lena sees her boss in a different light, and wants to get to know him more. Weston becomes aware of how much he's actually missed Braeburn and the close knit community, but having Lena by his side has made him realise - what if this was his granddad's plan all along? Will he appreciate what is right in front of him before it's too late?
Seriously, I do love an FMC who challenges the MMC when he's ultra broody and grumpy, because Lena and Weston had this in spades! Weston is the typical billionaire boss who is grumpy to everyone, but once you're in his circle of trust, he would do anything for you. Lena certainly scaled them high walls of his and changed his outlook on love but seriously, I couldn't believe how blind this man could also be! 🫠 Lena also didn't come without her own story, and I seriously felt for her. She had her own struggles to work through and I'm glad Weston could (finally!!!) be that person for her, loving her no matter what.
Overall, this story was a highly addictive and funny read (Bonnie was my fave!) and I seriously can't wait for more in the series!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 10, 2026
More Than a Highland Fling
I have read a few other books by this author and enjoyed them so I was eager to dive into this story. Admittedly, I am a sucker for a good Grumpy Boss/Fake Relationship trope and this book definitely delivered. It is full of banter, yearning, disappointment and forgiveness, and some great supporting characters.
The first chapter is very dynamic and sets to tone for the rest of the story really well. There’s always a fine line in the Grumpy Boss trope between grumpy and abusive and at the beginning of this story that line is razor thin. But the stage is set for Weston to reveal his very well hidden depths, no matter how much he resists those revelations.
Lena is the long suffering PA who is smart, driven and completely at the mercy of Weston’s demands at work. She has suffered some significant hurts in her life which have shaken her self-worth, but she still manages to stand up for herself when Weston “issues” his marriage proposal. She is persuaded to go along with his scheme and they head to Scotland and his family castle.
The supporting characters in this story are wonderful! From Agnes the housekeeper to all the busybodies in the village, they will have you smiling and laughing. The villagers embrace the newlyweds with great enthusiasm and so begins the integration of Weston and Lena into each other’s lives as well as that of the village community.
There are some very big bumps in the road for Weston and Lena as their relationship develops. But with the help of friends and some professional help with personal growth they manage to find their HEA.
I received a free advanced review copy from the author and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I have read a few other books by this author and enjoyed them so I was eager to dive into this story. Admittedly, I am a sucker for a good Grumpy Boss/Fake Relationship trope and this book definitely delivered. It is full of banter, yearning, disappointment and forgiveness, and some great supporting characters.
The first chapter is very dynamic and sets to tone for the rest of the story really well. There’s always a fine line in the Grumpy Boss trope between grumpy and abusive and at the beginning of this story that line is razor thin. But the stage is set for Weston to reveal his very well hidden depths, no matter how much he resists those revelations.
Lena is the long suffering PA who is smart, driven and completely at the mercy of Weston’s demands at work. She has suffered some significant hurts in her life which have shaken her self-worth, but she still manages to stand up for herself when Weston “issues” his marriage proposal. She is persuaded to go along with his scheme and they head to Scotland and his family castle.
The supporting characters in this story are wonderful! From Agnes the housekeeper to all the busybodies in the village, they will have you smiling and laughing. The villagers embrace the newlyweds with great enthusiasm and so begins the integration of Weston and Lena into each other’s lives as well as that of the village community.
There are some very big bumps in the road for Weston and Lena as their relationship develops. But with the help of friends and some professional help with personal growth they manage to find their HEA.
I received a free advanced review copy from the author and am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 7, 2026
Wow, what a story. This book sent me on an emotional rollercoaster and I laughed, I cried and I laughed some more.
When Weston's grandfather dies and leaves him everything with one condition, he must get married within 30 days, he turns to the one person he trusts, his assistant Lena, asking her to marry him and divorce after six months. But the proposal doesn't go well and his ex finds out and it all goes wrong for Weston.
With a change of heart Lena finds herself flying to Scotland as Mrs Kincaid and what she discovers has her seeing Weston in a different light. With a hilarious small pony who thinks she's a pet, a court case, and working together on a local festival they find themselves helping to organize, they start to fall for each other but it starts to unravel when an assumption is made and Lena has to tell Weston something deeply personal that sends him into a tailspin and Lena leaves.
Weston will have to look deep into himself and find a way to apologize if he stands any chance of getting Lena back.
This is such a beautiful story and I hope we see more of Bonnie the pony, whose antics had me belly laughing. I also want to thank the author for showing the implications of being told you can't have children and how it affects you. I stayed away from relationships because the expectation was that I would get married and have children, even when I told people it was unlikely I could ever get pregnant. I really understand why Lena made the decisions that she did and found it very moving.
This a real page turner and I wish I could give it 10 stars.
When Weston's grandfather dies and leaves him everything with one condition, he must get married within 30 days, he turns to the one person he trusts, his assistant Lena, asking her to marry him and divorce after six months. But the proposal doesn't go well and his ex finds out and it all goes wrong for Weston.
With a change of heart Lena finds herself flying to Scotland as Mrs Kincaid and what she discovers has her seeing Weston in a different light. With a hilarious small pony who thinks she's a pet, a court case, and working together on a local festival they find themselves helping to organize, they start to fall for each other but it starts to unravel when an assumption is made and Lena has to tell Weston something deeply personal that sends him into a tailspin and Lena leaves.
Weston will have to look deep into himself and find a way to apologize if he stands any chance of getting Lena back.
This is such a beautiful story and I hope we see more of Bonnie the pony, whose antics had me belly laughing. I also want to thank the author for showing the implications of being told you can't have children and how it affects you. I stayed away from relationships because the expectation was that I would get married and have children, even when I told people it was unlikely I could ever get pregnant. I really understand why Lena made the decisions that she did and found it very moving.
This a real page turner and I wish I could give it 10 stars.
June 24, 2026
First, I want to thank NetGalley and Relay Publishing for sending me the digital ARC for this book.
This was my first time reading a book by Leslie North. I thought the premise of a "fake marriage" was interesting. The FMC and MMC have a tenuous relationship initially, however, the author did a good job of creating opportunities for the characters to begin to see one another differently. Some of the circumstances seemed a little excessive and unbelievable at times, but the author used them well in regard to bringing the two together. I liked the initial pacing of the story and the evolution of their relationship, but once they started noticing their attraction, I felt like it jumped way ahead.
The setting was fantastic! I love books that feel like travel adventures. The minor characters were unique and stood out in different ways.
Going into this book, based on the information available, I was anticipating a mostly "clean" rom-com, but there is definitely explicit sexual content. As a no "spice" reader, that is unfortunately a deal breaker for me. Otherwise, I was enjoying the story. The initial explicit scene seemed to come out of nowhere and did not flow with the style of writing, the characters behavior/personality, or the story at that point.
In the future, it would be nice to see publishers develop a content awareness system so that readers can make informed decisions about the books they are buying.
If you don't mind coarse language or sexual content, you might really enjoy this story.
Content Warning:
Explicit sexual content
Coarse language
Death
Grief
*All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.
This was my first time reading a book by Leslie North. I thought the premise of a "fake marriage" was interesting. The FMC and MMC have a tenuous relationship initially, however, the author did a good job of creating opportunities for the characters to begin to see one another differently. Some of the circumstances seemed a little excessive and unbelievable at times, but the author used them well in regard to bringing the two together. I liked the initial pacing of the story and the evolution of their relationship, but once they started noticing their attraction, I felt like it jumped way ahead.
The setting was fantastic! I love books that feel like travel adventures. The minor characters were unique and stood out in different ways.
Going into this book, based on the information available, I was anticipating a mostly "clean" rom-com, but there is definitely explicit sexual content. As a no "spice" reader, that is unfortunately a deal breaker for me. Otherwise, I was enjoying the story. The initial explicit scene seemed to come out of nowhere and did not flow with the style of writing, the characters behavior/personality, or the story at that point.
In the future, it would be nice to see publishers develop a content awareness system so that readers can make informed decisions about the books they are buying.
If you don't mind coarse language or sexual content, you might really enjoy this story.
Content Warning:
Explicit sexual content
Coarse language
Death
Grief
*All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.
June 17, 2026
First Impressions:
I was highly intrigued by the pitch, The Hating Game meets The Proposal. Having thoroughly enjoyed both, I was excited to read The Grump I Married.
I was also incredibly excited for the tropes:
💍Fake marriage
⛈️☀️ Grumpy vs. sunshine
💼✍🏻Boss & employee
Overall Review: ⭐⭐⭐
I might have set my expectations too high due to those comp titles, but unfortunately, this book was a bit of a miss for me.
While it was still an enjoyable read, the characters lacked depth for the majority of the story. We were frequently told about their physical attraction and developing feelings, but we rarely got to see them actually grow.
The narrative often skipped crucial moments, telling us what happened after the fact rather than letting us experience it in real-time. An example, without giving away spoilers, would be Lena and the newspaper article. The book drops us into the next scene which felt like an abrupt time jump; it would have been better to experience her reading the article firsthand and connect with her inner monologue instead of just being told she was there because she read it.
I appreciated the dual POV and the great balance between dialogue and inner monologue. Unfortunately, the characters tones felt similar and I found myself having to flip to the start of the chapter to remind myself who was speaking.
As my first read from this author, it didn't completely deter me. I would still try reading book two to see if a different set of characters connects with me better.
*ARC was provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I was highly intrigued by the pitch, The Hating Game meets The Proposal. Having thoroughly enjoyed both, I was excited to read The Grump I Married.
I was also incredibly excited for the tropes:
💍Fake marriage
⛈️☀️ Grumpy vs. sunshine
💼✍🏻Boss & employee
Overall Review: ⭐⭐⭐
I might have set my expectations too high due to those comp titles, but unfortunately, this book was a bit of a miss for me.
While it was still an enjoyable read, the characters lacked depth for the majority of the story. We were frequently told about their physical attraction and developing feelings, but we rarely got to see them actually grow.
The narrative often skipped crucial moments, telling us what happened after the fact rather than letting us experience it in real-time. An example, without giving away spoilers, would be Lena and the newspaper article. The book drops us into the next scene which felt like an abrupt time jump; it would have been better to experience her reading the article firsthand and connect with her inner monologue instead of just being told she was there because she read it.
I appreciated the dual POV and the great balance between dialogue and inner monologue. Unfortunately, the characters tones felt similar and I found myself having to flip to the start of the chapter to remind myself who was speaking.
As my first read from this author, it didn't completely deter me. I would still try reading book two to see if a different set of characters connects with me better.
*ARC was provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
June 22, 2026
2.5 ⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Leslie North, and Relay Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.
The Grump I Married is a fast-paced marriage-of-convenience romance set against the backdrop of the Scottish Highlands. The premise immediately caught my attention, and the story wastes no time getting the main characters into the central conflict. Readers who enjoy quick-moving contemporary romances with fake relationships and plenty of drama may find a lot to enjoy here.
Unfortunately, this one wasn't entirely for me. While I liked the initial setup, I struggled to connect with the romance and found it difficult to fully believe in the relationship between the main characters. Their emotional journey felt rushed, and several key moments in the story jumped forward so quickly that I never felt I had enough time to sit with the characters and their development.
I also found the third-act conflict very easy to predict, which took away some of the emotional impact when it finally arrived. The story touches on heavier topics, but I personally felt they deserved more space and nuance than they were given. Because of this, some of the characters' reactions and decisions felt more frustrating than emotional.
That said, the book was easy to read and kept me turning the pages. While this romance ultimately didn't work for me, I can see it appealing to readers who enjoy fast-paced contemporary romances with marriage-of-convenience tropes and dramatic relationship dynamics.
Overall, this was a mixed read for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Leslie North, and Relay Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.
The Grump I Married is a fast-paced marriage-of-convenience romance set against the backdrop of the Scottish Highlands. The premise immediately caught my attention, and the story wastes no time getting the main characters into the central conflict. Readers who enjoy quick-moving contemporary romances with fake relationships and plenty of drama may find a lot to enjoy here.
Unfortunately, this one wasn't entirely for me. While I liked the initial setup, I struggled to connect with the romance and found it difficult to fully believe in the relationship between the main characters. Their emotional journey felt rushed, and several key moments in the story jumped forward so quickly that I never felt I had enough time to sit with the characters and their development.
I also found the third-act conflict very easy to predict, which took away some of the emotional impact when it finally arrived. The story touches on heavier topics, but I personally felt they deserved more space and nuance than they were given. Because of this, some of the characters' reactions and decisions felt more frustrating than emotional.
That said, the book was easy to read and kept me turning the pages. While this romance ultimately didn't work for me, I can see it appealing to readers who enjoy fast-paced contemporary romances with marriage-of-convenience tropes and dramatic relationship dynamics.
Overall, this was a mixed read for me.
Review of advance copy
My favorite part of this book was the friendship and camaraderie Weston and Lena built before the romance developed. They really seemed to know each other, and there was a lot of trust and loyalty, despite being occasionally annoyed with one another. There was some cute and funny banter between them, and I liked the cozy feel of their early interactions in Scotland. However, the pace significantly slowed shortly after the characters reached Weston's estate, and some of the scenes felt like filler.
I originally thought this novel was going to be a slow burn, and I was shocked by how the characters went from mild flirtation to full romance within the span of a few pages. There wasn't enough buildup, and it didn't feel organic. My biggest issue was with Weston's character though. I was incredibly disappointed by how quick he was to jump to judgment and how inconsiderate he was of Lena's feelings. He seemed overly dramatic, and his level of groveling was not adequate for how poorly he acted. I also would've preferred the final moments of the book to focus more on Weston and Lena's relationship, rather than Weston's time with his friends.
Overall, this was a decent romantic comedy, but the story dragged and lacked a compelling hero. I recommend it to those who enjoy cozy, Scotland-based books. *I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
I originally thought this novel was going to be a slow burn, and I was shocked by how the characters went from mild flirtation to full romance within the span of a few pages. There wasn't enough buildup, and it didn't feel organic. My biggest issue was with Weston's character though. I was incredibly disappointed by how quick he was to jump to judgment and how inconsiderate he was of Lena's feelings. He seemed overly dramatic, and his level of groveling was not adequate for how poorly he acted. I also would've preferred the final moments of the book to focus more on Weston and Lena's relationship, rather than Weston's time with his friends.
Overall, this was a decent romantic comedy, but the story dragged and lacked a compelling hero. I recommend it to those who enjoy cozy, Scotland-based books. *I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
June 10, 2026
This is a sweet banter filled rom-com that follows the story of a grumpy Scottish billionaire who must marry in order to receive his inheritance. Lena, who has been Weston’s personal assistant for the past seven years, is asked, or rather told to, take on the task.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I love the banter between Lena and Weston. They already have a steady relationship that helps them through the whole fake marriage bit. I honestly didn’t find Weston to be that grumpy, he was more tyrannical but in the vein of being a CEO. There is obviously already a good sense of camaraderie, trust, and like between the two of them.
I really enjoyed the side characters once the story made it to Scotland, especially the pets/animals.
The only drawback for me in the story was the third act breakup. I felt Weston‘s reaction to Lena‘s truth was very over the top and inappropriate given they had never discussed extending their relationship past the agreed time of marriage, even though they were intimate and obviously falling in love. So that seemed a little out of place given the story.
Overall, I enjoyed the read. It was a quick page turner. It made me smile. It made me laugh. It made my heart wrench a little bit, and I was glad for the HEA at the end.
☀️Grumpy/ sunshine
💍 Marriage of convenience
💻 Boss x personal assistant
🛌 Forced proximity
Thank you to the author and Relay Publishing for the electronic copy to read and review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I love the banter between Lena and Weston. They already have a steady relationship that helps them through the whole fake marriage bit. I honestly didn’t find Weston to be that grumpy, he was more tyrannical but in the vein of being a CEO. There is obviously already a good sense of camaraderie, trust, and like between the two of them.
I really enjoyed the side characters once the story made it to Scotland, especially the pets/animals.
The only drawback for me in the story was the third act breakup. I felt Weston‘s reaction to Lena‘s truth was very over the top and inappropriate given they had never discussed extending their relationship past the agreed time of marriage, even though they were intimate and obviously falling in love. So that seemed a little out of place given the story.
Overall, I enjoyed the read. It was a quick page turner. It made me smile. It made me laugh. It made my heart wrench a little bit, and I was glad for the HEA at the end.
☀️Grumpy/ sunshine
💍 Marriage of convenience
💻 Boss x personal assistant
🛌 Forced proximity
Thank you to the author and Relay Publishing for the electronic copy to read and review.
June 10, 2026
I love a good grumpy/sunshine romance and this book fits in that category. Weston is most definitely a grump…a growly, emotionally buttoned up one who frustrates his assistant, Lena, to no end. When he must marry in order to inherit a Scottish estate, she ends up married to him, despite her initial refusal and massive misgivings. In return for a few months of marriage, she will receive enough money to fund her dreams and take her far away from her irascible boss and others like him. She didn’t plan on falling for him or to have him break her heart, but both happen, nonetheless.
I enjoyed their banter, the snark and the sparks between Weston and Lena. Experience has taught Weston to be wary of love, to trust very few people and to keep his emotions locked down tight. Lena pushes all of his buttons, shines her light on his dismal life, and stands her ground with him. Their marriage of convenience begins to feel like the real thing, which scares the heck out of him, enough so that he is contemplating a retreat. Then he learns a secret that Lena kept from him and not only retreats, her pushes her away for good measure. Too late he realizes his mistake, but Lena now seems out of his reach. How can he hope to win her back after his abhorrent behaviour?
This book is entertaining, engaging and thoroughly enjoyable. I loved the Scotland setting and the captivating characters. I am happy to recommend it.
I enjoyed their banter, the snark and the sparks between Weston and Lena. Experience has taught Weston to be wary of love, to trust very few people and to keep his emotions locked down tight. Lena pushes all of his buttons, shines her light on his dismal life, and stands her ground with him. Their marriage of convenience begins to feel like the real thing, which scares the heck out of him, enough so that he is contemplating a retreat. Then he learns a secret that Lena kept from him and not only retreats, her pushes her away for good measure. Too late he realizes his mistake, but Lena now seems out of his reach. How can he hope to win her back after his abhorrent behaviour?
This book is entertaining, engaging and thoroughly enjoyable. I loved the Scotland setting and the captivating characters. I am happy to recommend it.
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