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The Sartoris #1
Accepting His Name
Author’s Note: While there is lots of delicious tension between the hero and heroine, this work is CLEAN.
If you like gentle and sweet heroes who treat their heroines like a princess, Ezio is not for you. Ezio Sartori married Shakarri Watson for one reason—he needed an heir to his fortune. All the terms were laid out in the contract Ezio’s lawyer drew up. Shakarri agreed because she was desperate to get out from under a debt she couldn’t handle, one left to her by her scheming no good father. But the cost for taking on Ezio’s name might be too high for Shakarri to pay.
Ezio is used to everyone obeying his orders, and he expects Shakarri to do the same. The contract she signed specifically states her obligation to please Ezio. Shakarri’s husband wants her pregnant within three to six months, as if a woman can control her body to such a degree.
He’s got a lot of demands, chief being Shakarri’s obedience. She’s beginning to think she made a big mistake in marrying Ezio except for two problems. One, Ezio has taken over the payments for her debt, and he can just as easily give them back. Two, intimacy with her husband is far beyond Shakarri’s wildest imagination. There are even times she suspects there’s a heart beating behind the cold exterior. She’s starting to feel something for him.
Now she has to decide—does she stay and remain at his mercy for the rest of her life or as long as he has need of her? Or should she run while she still has control of her own heart?
If you like gentle and sweet heroes who treat their heroines like a princess, Ezio is not for you. Ezio Sartori married Shakarri Watson for one reason—he needed an heir to his fortune. All the terms were laid out in the contract Ezio’s lawyer drew up. Shakarri agreed because she was desperate to get out from under a debt she couldn’t handle, one left to her by her scheming no good father. But the cost for taking on Ezio’s name might be too high for Shakarri to pay.
Ezio is used to everyone obeying his orders, and he expects Shakarri to do the same. The contract she signed specifically states her obligation to please Ezio. Shakarri’s husband wants her pregnant within three to six months, as if a woman can control her body to such a degree.
He’s got a lot of demands, chief being Shakarri’s obedience. She’s beginning to think she made a big mistake in marrying Ezio except for two problems. One, Ezio has taken over the payments for her debt, and he can just as easily give them back. Two, intimacy with her husband is far beyond Shakarri’s wildest imagination. There are even times she suspects there’s a heart beating behind the cold exterior. She’s starting to feel something for him.
Now she has to decide—does she stay and remain at his mercy for the rest of her life or as long as he has need of her? Or should she run while she still has control of her own heart?
- GenresInterracial Romance
110 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2016
17 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 20, 2016
I loved Tressie Lockwood's previous titles, but this union just didn't work well for me.
The hero, businessman Ezio was too, too controlling with it being "his way or no way." The heroine, Shakarri aka Sha had major financial debts and decided to marry Ezio in three weeks times to rid herself of them. She always expected to have a choice but under the circumstances how could that ever be possible if you married him to give him a male heir while he paid off her debts. Sha was never relatable to me-----just a very wishy-washy caricature in her marriage to Ezio. Then, I hated that Sha listened to too many secondary characters (Cason, her flirtatious brother-in-law and Paxe, Catarina's nanny) in this story which made room for huge misunderstanding in her marriage to Ezio. (Like ask your husband before you listen to your manwhorish brother-in-law or the the nanny before you put Ezio as always the bad guy) For everything to be written in a contract in their marriage, Sha tried hard to bend everything in the paperwork from having his children to divorce.
It wasn't an awful read, it just wasn't her best work either.
3 stars
Note:
Author’s Note: While there is lots of delicious tension between the hero and heroine, this work is CLEAN.
The hero, businessman Ezio was too, too controlling with it being "his way or no way." The heroine, Shakarri aka Sha had major financial debts and decided to marry Ezio in three weeks times to rid herself of them. She always expected to have a choice but under the circumstances how could that ever be possible if you married him to give him a male heir while he paid off her debts. Sha was never relatable to me-----just a very wishy-washy caricature in her marriage to Ezio. Then, I hated that Sha listened to too many secondary characters (Cason, her flirtatious brother-in-law and Paxe, Catarina's nanny) in this story which made room for huge misunderstanding in her marriage to Ezio. (Like ask your husband before you listen to your manwhorish brother-in-law or the the nanny before you put Ezio as always the bad guy) For everything to be written in a contract in their marriage, Sha tried hard to bend everything in the paperwork from having his children to divorce.
It wasn't an awful read, it just wasn't her best work either.
3 stars
Note:
Author’s Note: While there is lots of delicious tension between the hero and heroine, this work is CLEAN.
December 25, 2016
This is Ezio and Shakarri's story and book 1 in this series. I read this book second. I enjoyed the relationship between Ezio and Sha. he was controlling and domineering but whenever he found out folks was messing with his wife he would straighten them out and I loved that about him. When Sha realises he loves her but has not admitted it to her, I love what she does towards the end of the book to get him to confess his love. I also loved that when he pressed her to tell him what was bothering her he would take care of it.
I enjoyed this story and would recommend it as a good read.
I enjoyed this story and would recommend it as a good read.
December 8, 2016
I enjoyed this one. Now I normally can't stand controlling male characters but Shakarri didn't just lie down and take it. These two were interesting to read, with the push and pull dynamics of their relationship. Their marriage was certainly not ideal, and Ezio was not big on sharing anything that weren't commands, let alone his feelings. But somewhere along the line they found mutual ground for their relationship to stand on.
February 8, 2018
The good writing style is why I give this book 2 stars. Otherwise, I hated the story. A weak black woman who married a controlling overbearing white man for his money. Oh, my goodness, I cringed every time they were together. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the alpha male. But please, these stereotypes of helpless black women marrying white men for money has got to STOP.
I won’t be reading from this author again. Such a shame because her writing style is brilliant....
I won’t be reading from this author again. Such a shame because her writing style is brilliant....
August 23, 2016
Not my favorite...
I'm not sure if I really liked this story. The lead female was in debt and decided to marry a man for money with a contract that she pleases him, be at his beck and call and give him an heir. The man was rude and controlling. He didn't seem to respect her opinion,her wants or needs. How can she all of a sudden have feelings for him just because they had sex. It was really pathetic.
I'm not sure if I really liked this story. The lead female was in debt and decided to marry a man for money with a contract that she pleases him, be at his beck and call and give him an heir. The man was rude and controlling. He didn't seem to respect her opinion,her wants or needs. How can she all of a sudden have feelings for him just because they had sex. It was really pathetic.
November 4, 2021
I liked this story a lot even though I was skeptical that I would only slight issue I have with Tressie is, her heroines have a tendency of using references like I'm not a skinny blonde for example and more along this vein and I don't know it gets a bit old. I love her writing she is one author I can say I will always read.
November 26, 2016
Sassy
I must admit, I thoroughly enjoyed this love story. Outstanding. A little bit of sass is a little different from my other reads. Refreshing to see women take a stand for their respect in a very ladylike way but recognize that they still need their man all the same. Loved this book.
I must admit, I thoroughly enjoyed this love story. Outstanding. A little bit of sass is a little different from my other reads. Refreshing to see women take a stand for their respect in a very ladylike way but recognize that they still need their man all the same. Loved this book.
December 30, 2018
SPOILERS BELOW!!!!!
I absolutely detest this book.
Shakarri (She irritated me so much. I can't tell you the amount of times I said girl bye or rolled my eyes.)
-I don't understand what she expected when she married Ezio. It was like she expected love and respect. She got in her feelings when he didn't give her a kiss goodbye or didn't say anything when he left for work (a few days after marriage). She didn't like when he would say things like you belong to me. At one point, she brought up trust and Ezio was like this relationship isn't based on trust and she cut him off before he could say what it was based on. Their marriage was based on sex, her pleasing him and giving him a baby. In exchange, he would pay off her debt. It was an agreement, so she was being ridiculous with her expectations, especially since he told her exactly how he is before they got married.
-How she loved him just because the sex was good, I don't know. The reviewer that said Shakarri was pathetic because of this was absolutely right.
-I hated how she always made assumptions. Now some things Cason and Paxe said were somewhat true, they just weren't the whole truth. She assumed what they said was true, instead of just asking Ezio about it. She did the same things after a prospect client of Ezio came onto her and said some stuff. She went with it and ended up looking silly in my opinion.
-She got mad at Ezio when she was at the hospital for invading her privacy by tracking her. At any other time I would agree with her, but in this instance no. She drove away to a motel and while she was sleeping some guy broke into her room and was going to assault her. Before he could, Ezio and the cops busted in. If I remember correctly he punched the guy and took Shakarri to the hospital. If he didn't track her she would've been assaulted, so I don't understand her problem. Also, they were arguing at this point (Chap 10) and he kisses her and they stop arguing and she's just all lovey dovey with him again. 🤔🙄😒
-I didn't like her slapping Ezio across the face. The first time she did it, he set out dresses for her to wear to a lunch meeting he had with a client. She didn't like that they were summer dresses and said that she only likes to wear them in the summer (they are in California by the way). So this chick decides to put on a cami top with spaghetti straps and denim lace up shorts....really!🤔🙄😒 She could have just worn the dresses. So she pops up at his office in the outfit and while he's kissing her, he cuts up one of the legs of the shorts. She immediately slaps him. The next time, she slapped him when he said she is his. I could understand why the second time, but she's lucky he didn't slap her back. At these moments, he displayed a bit of self control.
-She didn't stick to the agreement. She was supposed to be off the pill and went back on without telling him.
-What was up with her threatening Madison (she was a bit much but still) and telling Madison that Ezio is hers. That is nothing to be proud of and little does Madison know, she dodged a bullet with that one.
Ezio
-He was controlling and had abusive tendencies. He would pick out her clothes and order food for her without asking what she wanted. He beat down the door once when she locked herself in the room. Why not get the keys for your room since it's your house? He also kept bringing the contract and would say things like you'll do what I want or else....
-Why didn't see how he interacted with Catarina? We only saw that once and it was like two or three sentences. But we kind of do gather that he loves Catarina based off what he says, how there was warmth to his facial expression when Shakarri brought her up, and taking Catarina out of her mother's home before things got worse.
-He doesn't have self control in my opinion. From constantly showing his "affection" to Shakarri in public. They are definitely the people you tell to get a room. Also, when he found out Shakarri was back on the pill, he took his anger out on everybody. The book actually says when Shakarri went downstairs after his little tantrum, Catarina looked miserable and Cason talks about the scarring of what Shakarri did and how Shakarri's actions made him lash out at the wrong people. Ezio should have been able to control his emotions and not turn on his family, especially his daughter.
-Why didn't we see his point of view? We only saw Shakarri's.
-I will say Ezio did defend Shakarri and that was good. But his actions are just too much and everything Nay said about him to Shakarri was right, but she didn't want to listen to Nay.
Also, when they told each other they loved each other and how they wanted to be a family, I thought it was a crockpot of bull. How could they love each other when the only time you spend together is in the bedroom? Like there is more to marriage... it is not only about sex. This book was all about sex even though there weren't sex scenes (have no problem with it being clean). This book is about an unhealthy marriage and this couple needs marriage counseling (I know it's just a book, but my point still stands).
I absolutely detest this book.
Shakarri (She irritated me so much. I can't tell you the amount of times I said girl bye or rolled my eyes.)
-I don't understand what she expected when she married Ezio. It was like she expected love and respect. She got in her feelings when he didn't give her a kiss goodbye or didn't say anything when he left for work (a few days after marriage). She didn't like when he would say things like you belong to me. At one point, she brought up trust and Ezio was like this relationship isn't based on trust and she cut him off before he could say what it was based on. Their marriage was based on sex, her pleasing him and giving him a baby. In exchange, he would pay off her debt. It was an agreement, so she was being ridiculous with her expectations, especially since he told her exactly how he is before they got married.
-How she loved him just because the sex was good, I don't know. The reviewer that said Shakarri was pathetic because of this was absolutely right.
-I hated how she always made assumptions. Now some things Cason and Paxe said were somewhat true, they just weren't the whole truth. She assumed what they said was true, instead of just asking Ezio about it. She did the same things after a prospect client of Ezio came onto her and said some stuff. She went with it and ended up looking silly in my opinion.
-She got mad at Ezio when she was at the hospital for invading her privacy by tracking her. At any other time I would agree with her, but in this instance no. She drove away to a motel and while she was sleeping some guy broke into her room and was going to assault her. Before he could, Ezio and the cops busted in. If I remember correctly he punched the guy and took Shakarri to the hospital. If he didn't track her she would've been assaulted, so I don't understand her problem. Also, they were arguing at this point (Chap 10) and he kisses her and they stop arguing and she's just all lovey dovey with him again. 🤔🙄😒
-I didn't like her slapping Ezio across the face. The first time she did it, he set out dresses for her to wear to a lunch meeting he had with a client. She didn't like that they were summer dresses and said that she only likes to wear them in the summer (they are in California by the way). So this chick decides to put on a cami top with spaghetti straps and denim lace up shorts....really!🤔🙄😒 She could have just worn the dresses. So she pops up at his office in the outfit and while he's kissing her, he cuts up one of the legs of the shorts. She immediately slaps him. The next time, she slapped him when he said she is his. I could understand why the second time, but she's lucky he didn't slap her back. At these moments, he displayed a bit of self control.
-She didn't stick to the agreement. She was supposed to be off the pill and went back on without telling him.
-What was up with her threatening Madison (she was a bit much but still) and telling Madison that Ezio is hers. That is nothing to be proud of and little does Madison know, she dodged a bullet with that one.
Ezio
-He was controlling and had abusive tendencies. He would pick out her clothes and order food for her without asking what she wanted. He beat down the door once when she locked herself in the room. Why not get the keys for your room since it's your house? He also kept bringing the contract and would say things like you'll do what I want or else....
-Why didn't see how he interacted with Catarina? We only saw that once and it was like two or three sentences. But we kind of do gather that he loves Catarina based off what he says, how there was warmth to his facial expression when Shakarri brought her up, and taking Catarina out of her mother's home before things got worse.
-He doesn't have self control in my opinion. From constantly showing his "affection" to Shakarri in public. They are definitely the people you tell to get a room. Also, when he found out Shakarri was back on the pill, he took his anger out on everybody. The book actually says when Shakarri went downstairs after his little tantrum, Catarina looked miserable and Cason talks about the scarring of what Shakarri did and how Shakarri's actions made him lash out at the wrong people. Ezio should have been able to control his emotions and not turn on his family, especially his daughter.
-Why didn't we see his point of view? We only saw Shakarri's.
-I will say Ezio did defend Shakarri and that was good. But his actions are just too much and everything Nay said about him to Shakarri was right, but she didn't want to listen to Nay.
Also, when they told each other they loved each other and how they wanted to be a family, I thought it was a crockpot of bull. How could they love each other when the only time you spend together is in the bedroom? Like there is more to marriage... it is not only about sex. This book was all about sex even though there weren't sex scenes (have no problem with it being clean). This book is about an unhealthy marriage and this couple needs marriage counseling (I know it's just a book, but my point still stands).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2019
I liked it. At first I thought the main female character was going to be a doormat but she had strength. I did not agree with some of her immature actions (running away from him, etc.) and felt she needed to just sit down and tell him how she felt or what she wanted. Anyway, it turned out to be a good read.
July 5, 2020
2nd time. Still 5 stars!
This is my 2nd time reading this book and it's the old gets 5 stars. It has the PG rating with the R feel. And the happily ever after that makes for a wonderful story.
This is my 2nd time reading this book and it's the old gets 5 stars. It has the PG rating with the R feel. And the happily ever after that makes for a wonderful story.
July 30, 2023
Not for me
I hated everything single thing about Shakarri! She got on my last nerve. I knew there was a reason why this book was at the very bottom of my library. She married to get out of debt that her dad put her in and complained the entire time.
I hated everything single thing about Shakarri! She got on my last nerve. I knew there was a reason why this book was at the very bottom of my library. She married to get out of debt that her dad put her in and complained the entire time.
November 16, 2019
Good but...
The book was good but I feel it was lacking something. Like it needed more character building from the main character.
The book was good but I feel it was lacking something. Like it needed more character building from the main character.
November 8, 2016
I was really enjoying this story until I got to chapter 11. When I started reading chapter 11 it was like a section of the book had been removed. Shakarri and Ezio went from fighting to suddenly everything is wonderful and lovey. The first ten chapters were wonderful. The byplay between them was fantastic. He was demanding and controlling, she was stubborn. Even though there was never a full explanation given for the debt he was paying off for her, it wasn't really crucial to know.
August 30, 2016
Waste of time
Absolutely horrible. The heroine seemed stereotypical in the bad ass ghetto girl fashion. This book was a waste of my time however try and see for yourself. Maybe corny dialogue is your passion.
Absolutely horrible. The heroine seemed stereotypical in the bad ass ghetto girl fashion. This book was a waste of my time however try and see for yourself. Maybe corny dialogue is your passion.
October 23, 2016
An enjoyable read.
August 19, 2016
I really like it
March 14, 2018
Loved every minute of this short read. I loved the fact that it did not feel rushed although a shorter story.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews